Cebu City hospital mum on baby lip-sealing case

MANILA, Philippines - The family of the baby whose lips were taped shut by a nurse at a Cebu City hospital is waiting for the medical center’s action on the matter.

“We are ready to take legal actions, but that would depend on the move of the hospital. We’ll base our decision on whatever action the hospital would make. We don’t want to be biased, as I have no problem with the hospital,” the baby’s mother said.

The baby’s father said they are willing to pursue legal action if the system is slow and if he is not convinced by the hospital’s reasons and actions.

“It’s not actually service. It’s a crime,” he said.

During a meeting with the hospital’s nursery supervisor on Saturday, the baby’s father asked for closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the nursery to determine what happened.

He said the supervisor said there was no CCTV camera in the nursery, only at the lobbies and parking area.

The hospital has not issued any statement to the media.

The mother said her baby has to remain in the hospital due to an infection. She said the pediatrician assured her the baby would be okay.

She said at first, she was willing to accept an apology from the nurse, had the latter not changed her story on the matter.

“The supervisor told us the nurse claimed she just placed a pacifier (in the baby’s mouth and used the tape to hold the pacifier in place),” the mother said, adding that an apology would have settled the matter.

The mother also questioned if putting a pacifier in a baby’s mouth is a practice allowed by the hospital.

Meanwhile, the office of the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) said the hospital should look into the incident to determine if it was an isolated case or part of its usual practice.

“If it’s a practice and exposed only now, it should be a cause for alarm,” said Noemi Truya-Abarientos, spokesperson for the CLB and coordinator of the Laban Bata Program.

Abarientos said the hospital may be liable should the nurse be found guilty.

She said the nurse's action  violated Republic Act 7610, the anti-child abuse law.

“It is basically maltreatment of an infant,” she said.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the hospital, police and government authorities should look deeper into the incident.

“This is a very serious offense against PD 603 (Child and Youth Welfare Code), RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act), RA 9262 (Violence Against Women and Children) and other constitutional provisions,” Labella said. – Freeman News Service