Napoles' personal doctors ask for safety in post-surgery checkups

MANILA, Philippines - The personal doctors of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles are willing to conduct post-surgery check-ups on her at her place of detention inside Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, provided that their security will be assured.

In last Thursday's hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 of the businesswoman's request for an extended stay at the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak), Dr. Efren Domingo, one of Napoles' obstetricians, told the court that the businesswoman's doctors are willing to go to the police camp if given security.

"We don’t know the conditions at Fort Sto. Domingo. We are afraid for our security as Mrs. Napoles is a detainee,” he said.

Napoles’ doctors also told the court during the hearing last Thursday that she has already been “medically discharged” from the Osmak following her surgery to remove a cyst from her uterus last April 23.

Aside from the cyst, Napoles' uterus and ovaries were also removed in the surgery.

“We have issued her discharge. Meaning, she does not need hospitalization,” said Domingo.

Domingo added that he is in favor of allowing Napoles to stay for at least three more months at the Osmak or any other tertiary hospital for her series of post-operative check-ups. He said that it is ideal that the check-ups on Napoles be done at the hospital or at their clinics. The court earlier ordered that Napoles should be returned to Fort Sto. Domingo after her surgery.

“We recommend that she sees us at our clinics or we see her at a hospital. We are willing to go to Fort Sto. Domingo provided we are assured of our safety,” he added.

The court last Thursday summoned the doctor from the Philippine National Police who is assigned at the Fort Sto. Domingo to appear on Tuesday to testify on the conditions at the police camp.

Osmak medical director Perry Peralta meanwhile told the court that Napoles could be discharged even without paying her hospital bills which had ballooned to P105,000 as of Saturday as long as she could present a promissory note.

“There are no medical and administrative hindrances for her discharge,” said Peralta.

Last May 7, Napoles’ lawyers filed a seven-page “Very Urgent Ex Parte Motion To Observe The Status Quo Ante With Motion For Further Hospital Confinement Due To Medical Reasons” with the court.

According to the motion, although Napoles’ doctors have issued a medical bulletin last May 6 advising that Napoles is now given clearance to be clinically discharged from Osmak, she still needs to undergo checkups once a week for one month, once every two weeks for the succeeding month and a check-up a month thereafter.

The lawyers also asked that Napoles be made to undergo complete bed rest at a place which is more “sanitized, hygienic and sterile.” 

Napoles, through her lawyers, is asking the court to allow her to be confined for an additional period of time at the Osmak to enable her to have a complete bed rest for speedy and full recovery, for easier mobility, practicality and convenience, not only for her, but also for her doctors and the security personnel who will be burdened to transfer her to the hospital and back for her check-ups.

Earlier, Napoles’ doctors said she is fully recovered and could now be released. 

They also told the court that the businesswoman would also need counseling for her to cope with the symptoms of surgical menopause following her hysterectomy.