Autopsy results

The results of the autopsy of Francis Jay Gumikib, the 14-year-old student from Antipolo who was slapped by his teacher, were recently released. According to the PNP Forensic Group (PNP-FG) which conducted the autopsy, the child had an unusual condition where a blood vessel in the brain ruptured which caused the hemorrhage leading to his death. This is what caused his death, not because the teacher slapped him.

Atriovenous malformation (AVM) was the condition in question. These are abnormally-formed fragile blood vessels, in this case, in the brain. Like an aneurysm, it is impossible to tell exactly when an AVM ruptures. The PNP-FG added that the teacher's slapping had nothing to do with the rupture of the blood vessel. Their examination revealed the rupture was non-traumatic in nature and the vessel in question was located deep in the brain. It will be hard to prove if the child being slapped caused the rupture. Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun agreed that this is what happened to the child. She added that the child may have had meningoencephalitis, which led to the complication of the vessel rupturing.

I would not be surprised if the child's family did not accept the results of the PNP-FG autopsy. If that is the case, a second opinion should be sought but since it is expensive if it is done by a private pathologist, the family may decide not to. If it is hard to prove the slap caused the rupture, then I suppose it will be just as hard to say it did not. The family stated that regardless of the results of the autopsy, the teacher would still be sued.

The teacher is still accountable not because she caused the child’s death but because she slapped him. The Antipolo police are ready to file a criminal complaint but are waiting for the family's decision. The teacher in question is currently suspended for 90 days. A teacher cannot physically punish any student. There is a law against such an act, Section 10 of Republic Act No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act). It should also serve as a warning to teachers who tend to be heavy-handed. If the teacher did not slap the boy, then she would not be held accountable for anything. The stigma of whether she did cause his demise would not happen. Parents may not want to have their children in her class should she return after her suspension.