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Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Army to rap RMC for death of officer
By Avelyn Z. Agudon and Claudine C. Dumalag
<|>* To determine the hospital's culpability, the National Bureau of Investigation will also conduct its own probe on RMC's lapses
THE Philippine Army will sue Riverside Medical Center (RMC) for its alleged failure to administer medical treatment to Maj. Nelson Gerona, spokesman of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, who died with 14 others in a road mishap Saturday night.
To determine the hospital's culpability, the National Bureau of Investigation will also conduct its own probe on RMC's lapses when it refused to administer appropriate medical treatment to Gerona--an allegation denied by the hospital management who said "it is common practice" of private hospitals in the Philippines to transfer patients not financially capable to a government hospital for as long as his or her condition is stable.
The public jeepney Gerona was riding, along with 19 other passengers, smashed into a 10-wheeler truck loaded with sugarcane at past 10 p.m. Saturday along the national highway of Hda. Adela, Barangay Rizal, Silay City.
Also eyed to face charges, this time by the provincial police office, is the owner of the ill-fated passenger jeepney, whose vehicle took passengers out of route.
Reynaldo Centina, the owner, meanwhile, asked financial assistance from Gov. Joseph Maraņon for the victims of the accident.
Ready for battle
Speaking on behalf of the 303rd IB, Sgt. Rudy Estrella said they are conducting an in-depth investigation on why Gerona was transferred from RMC despite his unstable condition.
"Maj. Gerona could have been alive today if he was only given immediate treatment by the attending physician," Estrella said as he disclosed that the brigade is ready for any legal battle against the management of the RMC.
Gerona died a few hours after RMC transferred him to a government run-hospital, Doņa Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Hospital.
Joaquin Torre, President of the RMC, admitted that Gerona's transfer was due to "lack of financial requirements" and his having remained unidentified when he was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Torre said the hospital, as a matter of practice, requires P3,000 deposit before they could admit a patient.
Dr. Dave Gamboa, head of the Emergency Response Department, on the other hand, insisted that Gerona's condition was stable when they transferred him to the regional hospital for further medical treatment.
Gamboa said when Gerona arrived around 12 midnight from Dr. Jose Locsin Memorial Hospital in Silay City, his blood pressure was only 50, although he was conscious.
Gerona was heard screaming loudly because of the pain from his abdomen and a fracture in his extremities.
Gerona was then resuscitated and the BP raised to 110/50.
When Gerona's condition became stable, he was endorsed to the regional hospital for continued treatment, said Gamboa.
He added that after emergency treatment several options should supposedly be considered; one is to require the patient to be admitted for further medical treatment.
Nobody admitted Gerona as he was labeled Mr. X.
His personal belongings, including his wallet, was left at the hospital in Silay City, while those of the other victims were recovered from the ill-fated passenger jeepney.
The military official was transferred to the regional hospital at 12:47 a.m. He died around 3 a.m. from loss of blood.
NBI's probe
Upon the request of the Riverside Toastmaster's Club (where Gerona was officially sworn in as member hours before the tragedy) the NBI will pursue its separate investigation on RMC's refusal to admit the military officer.
Lawyer Mario Pao, president of the Riverside Toastmasters Club, said RMC clearly violated Republic Act 8344 or the "Act penalizing the refusal of hospital and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency or serious cases to prevent death or permanent disability."
He said any official, medical practitioner or employee of the hospital or medical clinics who violate the provisions upon conviction by final judgment may be punished by imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than four months or a fine of P100,000.
Charges against the operator
Senior Supt. Vicente Ponteras, provincial police director, ordered the filing of criminal charges against Centina, the jeep owner.
Ponteras instructed Supt. Celestino Guara, Silay police chief to investigate the incident further and to prepare the criminal charges against Centina.
Ponteras, on the other hand, questioned Guara on the unretrieved 10-wheeler truck along Hda. Adela Highway that also had an accident a day before the incident.
But Guara said that they could not retrieve the truck for lack of necessary equipment, loaded as it was with 22 tons of sugarcane.
Guara said that the owner of the truck, Fe Poras, a planter from Isabela town, is partly liable because of her failure to retrieve the truck despite his advise.
He said Poras promised to dispatch another 10-wheeler truck to help retrieve it but it came only after the tragic incident.
Stepping stone to improvement
Torre said Gerona's case would be a stepping stone for them to improve "to save more lives."
"It took the life of Gerona to re-examine ourselves to correct this problem. It is a continued struggle to improve our services," Torre said.
He added they will conduct an investigation on their personnel.
Meanwhile, a letter asking for financial assistance for the families of the dead and those injured in the accident has been forwarded to Gov. Maraņon.
(November 18, 2003 issue)
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