Parents of quadruplets decry DOH findings

The parents of the quadruplets that died last month after allegedly receiving shabby treatment from hospitals expressed disappointment yesterday over the findings by a Department of Health (DOH) panel.

The panel cleared the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital and six others of culpability in the death of the babies.

"We are now losing hope that we’ll get justice for our daughters. The DOH findings really sadden us," said the mother, Jocelyn Calisaan, in a telephone interview.

The father, Vladimir, said they are no longer sure if it is still advisable to pursue criminal charges against MCU Hospital in view of the DOH findings.

"If the DOH ruled against us, how much more if we elevate our case to the court? We don’t know what to do. I don’t think our case will prosper. We still have to talk about this with our relatives," he added.

Quadruplets Ma. Jobol, Ma. Angeline, Ma. Angelica and Ma. Therese were rushed to the MCU Hospital after they were born prematurely at the Espiritu Lying-in and Maternity Clinic in Caloocan City last July 15.

MCU transferred the babies to the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, but not before inquiring with the Philippine General Hospital, Chinese General Hospital, National Children’s Medical Center, Hospital of the Infant Jesus, Philippine Medical Center and East Avenue Medical Center about the transfer.

The parents alleged that MCU had been in a hurry to transfer the quadruplets to other hospitals after learning that they had no money for their hospitalization.

"We recognize that MCU had attended to our children while we were at the emergency room. However, when they learned that we had no money, they wanted to transfer us immediately to other hospitals," the father said in Filipino.

He claimed that MCU withheld the release of the quadruplets by five hours because they failed to immediately pay the hospital. But the five-man probe body created by the DOH cleared the hospitals of any liability in the death of the quadruplets, saying that at no time did the hospital violate Republic Act 8344, or the No Deposit Law.

The panel claimed instead that the hospitals could not admit the children because they "did not have available incubators and ventilators at that time."

The father, however, decried the findings. "We did not invent what we earlier said. MCU wanted us out because they learned we had no money to pay them."

The panel had blamed Dr. Francisco Espiritu, Jocelyn’s obstetrician and owner of the lying-in clinic for what happened to the quadruplets. He is accused of being too complacent in his care of Jocelyn’s high-risk pregnancy and that his clinic was not capable of handling such pregnancy.

The panel had recommended that the parents of the quadruplets should file a formal complaint against Espiritu before the Professional Regulation Commission.

But the mother said that she had no complaint as to the way Espiritu handled the babies. She, however, said she now doubts if the doctor performed proper delivery procedure on her.

Jocelyn explained that last July 27, she was rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital after suffering from bleeding.

"The doctors told my husband that a placenta was left inside my womb. They performed a dilatation and curettage on me. I am now doubting if I had been given the proper care," she said.