Paliwanag ni Dr. Campos sa isyu ni Jimboy Magtalas

Si Jimboy Magtalas ay may limang taon nang naka-confine sa Medical Center Manila (MCM) dahil sa appendicitis at sa umano’y hindi maipaliwanag na kadahilanan sa isyu ng anesthesia kaya naging lantang-gulay magpahanggang ngayon.

Muling idaraos ni Jimboy sa MCM ang kanyang ika-18 kaarawan bukas (Marso 13). Masakit isipin na hindi siya nakatikim ng normal na buhay ng isang kabataan. Bumabati ang buong staff at pamunuan ng Pilipino Star NGAYON sa kaarawan ni Jimboy.

Samantala’y narito ang karugtong ng liham ni Dr. Paulo Campos, may-ari ng MCM na ipinadala sa OK KA BATA! Nagsasaad ito ng kanilang panig hinggil sa isyu ni Jimboy.

To facilitate respiration and nutrition, tracheostomy and gastrectomy were performed on him. After several months, Jimboy regained consciousness and presently is in a physical condition that would allow him to be discharged fom the hospital and continue therapy at home. During all the years that Jimboy was at MCM, the MCM provided him with an airconditioned suite, nursing services, supplies and expensive medicines that all contri-buted to his speedy recovery. Despite all these efforts and expense on the part of MCM, the Magtalases never lifted a finger to pay for the hospital bills which had accumulated to an aggregate amount of P5,257,727.32 Medical records show that the Jimboy has more or less recovered. The attending physician (chosen by the Magtalases themselves) even gave the clearance for the discharge of the patient. It has been advised that Jimboy will recover more steadily and speedily if he is at home where the environment and the people close to him could assist him walk again.

It is not true that the Magtalases were not informed of MCM’s decision to transfer him to another room. There was written notice duly furnished them and this is on record. It is also falsehood that there was a purported agreement between MCM and the Magtalases that the Hospital will shoulder all expenses of the patient. MCM is a private hospital and could not have possibly entered into such gratuitous contract. Records will confirm that the hospital had regularly sent statements of account to the Magtalases, in fact even filing a collection case against them, if only to recover the ever increasing hospital bills as the Magtalases have never paid even a single centavo for the past 5 years and Philamcare merely limited its payment to a measly sum of P50,000.00. As to the negligence case filed by the Magtalases against Philamcare doctors and the Hospital, the same was already dismissed by the court for failure of the Magtalases to prosecute, although they have filed a motion for reconsideration over 2 years ago.

The statement in Mr. Basco’s column to the effect that MCM had bad intentions in transferring the patient to Rm. 8180 is rather unfair and malicious. MCM, in its entire history, had never been involved in any wrongdoing as regards to its operation as a hospital. It’s immaculate record will dispel such insinuation as without any factual basis and if this statement is aimed at getting media mileage and possible blackmail, MCM Management would have no other recourse but to go to court to vindicate its tarnished honor and good name. MCM honestly and fully believes that it had performed its duties and responsibilities above par and the consciences of the people running it are CLEAN.

We vehemently deny that MCM, its directors, doctors, personnel and all those who have in one way or another dealt with Jimboy Magtalas have violated any of his human rights. If there is any such human right violated in Jimboy’s case, it is none other than the reciprocal ‘‘RIGHT TO LIVE’’ of those people who depend on the salaries and wages they received from MCM. Being a private hospital which is not being subsidized by the government, MCM has the right to collect payments from patients for the use of its medicines, suite and services in order to survice. Otherwise, it will also collapse and die.

It is hope that you would publish this rectification prominently in the interest of justice, truth and fair play.

Very truly yours,

Paulo C. Campos