THE family of the 21-year-old woman pregnant with twins sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following her death at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City due to alleged lapses.
Special Agent William de Arca Jr. of NBI-Bacolod said the father of Mary Joy Geronca, Jose Cesar Penario, went to their office Monday to file a complaint.
He said they will secure the affidavit of Geronca’s father, and husband today.
After the affidavit is completed, they will request the medical certificate, medical abstract, and autopsy of the victim, he said.
De Arca said they will also ask the legal opinion of their medico-legal officer.
If there are lapses committed by the hospital staff, the NBI will file medical malpractice charges, he added.
No negligence
Dr. Julius Drilon, chief of CLMMRH, said they sympathize with the family of Mary Joy Geronca, but stressed there was no negligence since the staff have done everything to save her and her twins.
He also explained that the mother was aware of her delicate pregnancy, but never returned to the hospital for follow-up check-up after her last check-up in December.
The mother had an eclampsia, a condition where there is a sudden, sharp rise in blood pressure, while on labor.
Penario said they brought his daughter to CLMMRH on January 17, but she died the following day.
He alleged there was negligence by the hospital staff.
Task Force Crusaders deputy commander John Chiong said they submitted the complaint of Geronca’s family to Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial on Monday.