Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Jan-jan files complaints against doctors before PRC; one year to resolve case
GENARO Jorolan, the patient known as “Jan-jan,” has filed an administrative complaint against the doctors who performed the controversial rectum surgery on him last Jan. 3.
Jorolan filed the administrative complaint before the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) 7 yesterday morning. He wants the medical licenses of the doctors from the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) revoked.
Mildred Antipuesto, legal counsel of PRC 7, received the complaints yesterday and told reporters they will review and verify the documents.
Antipuesto said they would initially verify the complaints, making sure that they have the right doctors and if the data they have was sufficient.
“We have to verify the names, birth dates, their registration numbers,” said Antipuesto.
She said it was also important that they determine if PRC 7 had jurisdiction over the case.
Should PRC 7 indeed have jurisdiction over Jorolan’s case, it would most likely take a year for the entire case to be resolved, said Antipuesto.
She said they will start verification within the week. She said the fact checking will most likely last around two weeks.
After verification, Antipuesto said they will send notices to the respondents and give them 15 days to respond.
A pre-trial will be held after all the respondents have responded to the notices. Trial will follow.
Five doctors of the controversial rectal operation have been charged administratively.
Charged
Those charged are Dr. Angelo Alina-wagan, assistant surgeon during Jorolan’s operation; Dr. Joseph de Leon, a member of the surgical team and the person-in-charge of the documentation of the operation; Dr. Max Joseph Montecillo of the VSMMC’s Department of Surgery; Dr. Phillips Leo Arias, surgeon in charge during the operation; and Dr. Marlowe Parreno, the consultant of the Department of Surgery.
They are accused of violation of the code of ethics, gross negligence, and dishonorable and unethical conduct relative to the extraction of the perfume canister from Jorolan’s rectum.
Antipuesto said that depending on the outcome of the trial, the doctors might be reprimanded, suspended or have their licenses revoked.
Sun.Star Cebu tried calling Jorolan’s legal counsel, Guiller Ceniza, but failed to reach him for comment.
Jorolan made headlines after the controversial removal of a perfume canister from his rectum when a video of the the procedure was uploaded to the popular video-sharing website YouTube.
Jorolan is currently seeking P6 million in damages from the medical team and VSMMC.
While Jorolan has filed complaints before PRC 7 against the doctors of VSMMC, Antipuesto said that Jorolan might also file complaints against the nurses present during the operation. (EBP)
