DOH to probe hospital for refusing patient

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) will look into reports that a 10-year-old girl died recently after she was turned away by a hospital in Butuan City when her family failed to pay the P30,000 deposit in full.

DOH Undersecretary Ted Herbosa said there are many questions that should be answered concerning the issue.

Herbosa said it should be established who determined whether or not the girl was an emergency case, if there was negligence on the part of the hospital and the cause of the girl’s death, among others.

Reports showed that the girl died last July 16 and her family is blaming the Butuan Doctors Hospital, whose admitting personnel allegedly refused to admit her.

The girl had congenital heart disease, diabetes and kidney problems.

According to Rosendo Sualog, medical specialist at the DOH’s Bureau of Health Facilities and Services, soliciting or collecting deposit or any form of advance payment for the confinement or treatment of a patient is prohibited by the law.

Sualog said medical experts could determine if a patient is an emergency case by checking the vital signs such the pulse or heart rate, temperature and respiratory rate.

The girl’s mother posted on Facebook that her daughter was initially brought to a hospital in Agusan del Sur last July 13. They decided to transfer her to the Butuan hospital, which was better equipped.