Wednesday, May 14, 2008 2 VSMMC doctors, 1 nurse suspended for 3 months
TWO doctors and a nurse have been preventively suspended for three months to make way for the investigation on the administrative charge against them over a controversial operation to remove a perfume canister from the rectum of a patient.
Suspended by the Department of Health (DOH) effective yesterday were Dr. Philips Leo Arias, head surgeon; Dr. Max Joseph Montecillo, surgeon; and Carmina Sapio, circulating nurse.
The three medical workers of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) are facing an administrative charge over a January operation on Genaro Jorolan, the patient who is also known as Jan-Jan.
The medical procedure at VSMMC became controversial when a video footage of it was spread and uploaded to YouTube.com. The video footage showed doctors and nurses shouting and laughing during the operation.
Not penalty
DOH 7 Director Susana Madarieta said the suspension is not a penalty but merely preventive, to give way to the investigation as a matter of DOH policy.
Other doctors and nurses included in the investigation were not preventively suspended. Madarieta did not explain why only the three were suspended.
Madarieta said Dr. Gerardo Aquino, VSMMC chief, filed the administrative charge against those involved in the operation, based on the report of the investigating team he created.
The patient’s lawyer, however, said they will demand a revamp in the hospital staff, including Aquino.
Lawyer Guiller Ceniza said they will file today separate administrative charges against Arias, Montecillo, Sapio and all those involved in the operation, based on the patient’s statement.
Ceniza and the complainant had a conference with Director Virginia Palanca-Santiago of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman-Visayas.
Jurisdiction
Santiago said DOH can conduct an administrative investigation on those involved in the incident in relation to the DOH internal rules and regulations.
Ceniza said the anti-graft office is also investigating the criminal aspect on the incident as well as the administrative aspect of the case for violation of the Code of
Ethical Standards for Public Officers and Employees.
The Office of Ombudsman had elevated its fact finding inquiry into a formal complaint for both administrative and criminal charges against the medical workers.
In his letter to Health Secretary Francisco Duque yesterday, Ceniza asked DOH to take note of the jurisdiction of the ombudsman vis-à-vis the DOH jurisdiction.
In the administrative case Ceniza is scheduled to file today, the respondents will include VSMMC, Aquino, Arias, Montecillo, Sapio, Dr. Marlowe Parreno, Dr. Serapio Salazar, Dr. Joseph de Leon, Dr. Joan Mae Meril-les, Isabelita Remulta, Consuelo Teeling, Ida Sumayang, Rosemarie Villareal, a certain A. Oplano, Ramon Penley “Moching” Padayon and several other unidentified people.
In the complaint that will be filed today with the DOH, the patient will detail how he was unfairly treated by hospital doctors and nurses, starting from the emergency room to the operating room. (EOB)
