THE Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) is looking into the alleged slashing of a patient’s urinary bladder while she was undergoing a caesarean section earlier this month.
The Department of Health (DOH) 7 formally forwarded the complaint of Jermelyn Bactismo to the hospital yesterday.
Dr. Antonio Roque Paradela, VSMMC chief of professional and medical staff, told reporters they have created an investigating team to handle the matter.
Paradela, though, refused to say if they have summoned the doctor in question to explain her side.
In a separate interview, Ligaya Moneva, DOH 7 health education and promotions officer, said they forwarded the complaint to the VSMMC to give hospital officials a chance to conduct their own inquiry.
Limited scope
Moneva said that while DOH is willing to investigate the matter, the agency can only look into the licensing and regulation aspect of the hospital, as related to the incident.
Issues of medical malpractice are under the jurisdiction of the Professional Regulation Commission, she said.
Earlier this week, Bactismo and her live-in partner Leonard Parantar went to the DOH 7 office to submit their complaint against VSMMC.
Bactismo claimed that her attending doctor (her name has been withheld by Sun.Star Cebu pending her comment) injured her urinary bladder while the latter was conducting a C-section on the 23-year-old mother earlier this month.
Aside from ensuing health problems, Bactismo said they had to spend a lot of money for medication.
Meanwhile, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo reiterated his calls to Cebu’s medical sector to be charitable toward those who need their help and care.
Villarojo told reporters that it is the responsibility of medical practitioners to take care of their patients, regardless of their financial and social status.