Thursday, May 08, 2008 Probe surgery scandal fairly, objectively: surgeons’ group
THE Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) on Wednesday urged authorities to conduct a fair and objective investigation on the Cebu surgery scandal and to impose the appropriate sanctions against those involved in the case.
PCS president Armando Crisostomo expressed concern on the possible negative effects of the incident on Filipino surgeons who are working here and abroad.
“The PCS expresses its deep concern over the unfortunate incident that revealed apparent unbecoming behavior during the performance of a surgical procedure,” he said.
Individuals
Last month,a surgical patient from Cebu complained of having his rectal surgery at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) operating room uploaded in the video-sharing website, YouTube.
The footage showed the surgeon and nurses giggling and cheering while a perfume canister was being removed from his anus after it got stuck in a sexual encounter with a fellow male.
The Department of Health (DOH) has named nine individuals in the Cebu scandal, including head surgeon Dr. Philips Leo Arias, while saying the individuals who will be found liable are set to face administrative and criminal charges as well as possible removal of licenses to practice.
But Crisostomo said their group cannot sanction Arias as he is not a registered member of PCS.
Meanwhile, Genaro Jorolan, the surgery patient, a homosexual, is avoiding the media.
Danton Remoto, chairman of Ang Ladlad, said the patient has refused to be interviewed.
Psychologist
He said even their group had a hard time persuading the patient to accept help.
“We’d like to provide him with a psychologist or therapist who could guide him and help him cope with the traumatic experience he had been through,” Remoto said.
Ang Ladlad welcomed the recommendation of the Office of the Ombudsman in Western Visayas to file charges against the three doctors and a nurse of VSMMC, a government-run hospital in Cebu.
The ombudsman decided to sue Arias, Drs. Marlowe Parreno, Angelo Linawagan, Alfred Joseph De Leon, Joanne Mae Merilles, Serapio Salazar and Max Joseph Montecillo for violation of the Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Also implicated in the case were nurses Isabelita Remulta, Carmenia Sapio, Consuelo Tecling and Ida Sumayang; nursing attendant Rosemarie Villareal; and clinical instructors identified as “Mr. A. Oplado” and Ramon Penley “Monching” Pandaan. (Sunnex)
