Saturday, April 19, 2008 Editorials: Jan-Jan’s case and YouTube
GOOD that Dr. Susana Madarieta of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 gave another view to the case of the florist, Jan-Jan, and the operation to extract a canister from his rectum.
In a highly contentious and emotional issue like this one, it pays for the public to consider all perspectives to ensure objectivity and more enlightened reaction.
Observations
Madarieta, in a dyLA interview, raised some good points on the issue:
One, that the medical team's choice of the operating room instead of the emergency room for the operation was correct because it allowed better control of the situation.
Two, that there seems to be an effort to protect the identity of the patient during the videotaping, as the footage did not show the face of the person being operated on.
Three, that it looks like those allowed to watch the operation were only medical people and their presence was not surprising considering the unique nature of the case.
Four, that there have been instances when members of a medical team doing the operation clap their hands for a job well done and for saving another patient's life.
Madarieta was, of course, not preempting the result of the investigation conducted by Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) officials that DOH 7 will review.
VSMMC was supposed to hold a press conference on the matter yesterday.
Technology
While making it clear that there could be lapses in the operation conducted, Madarieta mentioned one interesting point in this particular case: change in technology.
We are in an age when video footages can be circulated from a cell phone to another in a second and video sharing web sites like YouTube ensure worldwide viewing.
This has an impact on the effort to ensure confidentiality in any undertaking.
After this issue broke out in the media, for example, the number of people who have seen the video footage quadrupled and some wise guys uploaded it again on YouTube.
This case is therefore precedent-setting and should prod DOH and organizations of medical practitioners to come up with new guidelines on doctor-patient relation that recognize swift changes in technology.
