Town doc accused of neglecting baby

CEBU, Philippines - A nine-month-old boy is in a critical condition after suffering from diarrhea and allegedly neglected by a doctor in an infirmary in Asturias town.

Ritche Torion, 31, said a computer tomography scan found that apart from severe dehydration and gastritis, his baby is now suffering from meningitis.

"Tungod sa hilanat ug kombulsyon sa bata, nakita nga naay nana sa utok (The baby had fever and convulsing. A check showed he has pus in his brain)," Torion told The FREEMAN.

The baby is now confined at the pediatric intensive care unit of Perpetual Succour Hospital in Cebu City.

The baby was admitted at the hospital since Monday and the family was also made to prepare for blood transfusion.

"Ang gusto ra gyud namo nga madisiplina ang doktor kay daghan bayang bata sa amoa nga pwede sad ma ingon ani (What we want is for the doctor to be sanctioned, because there are many children under his care who may end up like this also)," he said.

The family is blaming Dr. Zaldy Climaco, Asturias municipal health officer, for allegedly neglecting his duties and not properly attending to their son when they rushed him to the town's infirmary Sunday after the baby suffered from diarrhea and vomiting.

The next day, the parents asked the doctor for referral as they intended to bring the baby to Cebu City since his condition was already deteriorating.

""Pagkaugma ana, nakuyawan na mi kay gi-convulsion na ang bata, nangurog na. Akong gihangyo ang mga nurse nga ipa-dextrose na . Ako na mismo miingon sa doktor nga mamalhin mi sa Cebu kay luya na man ang bata," Torion said.

It was another doctor, who was also assigned in the infirmary, who signed the referral form.

Torrion said they intend to seek help from the Commission on Human Rights-7 for them to be advised how to file a complaint against the government doctor.

Cheryl, the baby's mother, said they did not bring the baby to Balamban District Hospital, which is a better facility, because they thought their baby would be properly attended to at the infirmary.

"Pwerte nakong hangyo sa mga nurse on duty nga i-dextrose akong anak aron dili ma dehydrate pero mag-agad man daw sila sa advise sa doctor. Pagka ugma nga luya na gyud, mi-decide na mi nga ibalhin kay wala man gyud mi atimana," she told The FREEMAN.

A source who declined to be named alleged that he saw Climaco at a cockpit arena on Sunday, the day the baby was brought in the infirmary.

Sought for his comment, Climaco belied the allegation of negligence.

He said the attending nurses in the infirmary advised the parents to bring the baby to the nearest district hospital since he was not on duty at that time.

He, however, said that he went to the infirmary in the evening allegedly to check the condition of the child, whom he said was suffering from dehydration.

"Mihuwat gyod sila nako. So, akong giadto. Gipangutana nako ang kahimtang sa bata. Akong gitan-aw ang bata, wa may signs of dehydration. Ingon ko obserbahan sa. Diha sila nag-stay sa infirmary, unya gipatagaan nako og tambal," he said in a telephone interview.

Climaco said the nurses even gave the baby first aid medication.

He said that the following day, nurses at the infirmary informed him that the baby's father requested for intravenous fluid since the child's condition was worsening.

Climaco said he could not check the child since he was attending a medical mission that time.

"Gipahibalo ko Lunes sa buntag so gipa-dextrose-an nako. Diha man pod laing doktor nahabilin atong adlawa," he said.

As to the allegation that he was seen in a cockpit, Climaco says, "Kining trabaho sa doktor sa rural lahi ra sa ospital. Doktor ko sa center, wa koy trabaho og weekend. Personal na nako kanang adlawa, way magbuot nako kung asa ko sa Sabado ug Dominggo."

He said that working at the infirmary during weekends are his additional service only. —/RHM (FREEMAN)