Medical malpractice?

6 forceps found in tummy

abs-cbnNEWS.com Posted at 02/16/2011 10:03 PM | Updated as of 02/16/2011 10:19 PM
MANILA, Philippines - A woman is seeking justice after her live-in partner died allegedly after surgical equipment were left inside him post-operation. Hannah, not her real name, still can't believe what happened to her live-in partner Roger Panzo. She recounted that on January 30, Roger was brought to the FEU-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (NRMF) Medical Center after he sustained gunshot wounds in a robbery incident in Caloocan. He was operated on and was able to recover, but the surgical wound was not closed immediately. The hospital said it was done to be able to monitor the patient closely. "They could not control the bleeding, so it was decided to keep the OS inside the abdomen first," said Dr. Deane Campo-Cruz, Chief of Clinics at the FEU-NRMF Medical Center. Roger, however, suddenly died on Febraury 1. When his body was brought to the morgue, several instruments were recovered from his body. "Basahan, hindi ko po alam kung ilang basahan, basta anim na forceps sa katawan niya, [tapos] ilang tahi," said Hannah. "Kahit na hindi naman tayo duktor o ano, ibig sabihin dapat kapag nag-expire na ang pasyente, dapat ina-ayos nila," said Oliver Bueno, owner of Holy Hour Funeral Home, where Roger's body was brought. A report from the police's Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) unit said he died from gunshot wounds, but the police said the instruments left inside him could have contributed to hastening his death. "Based doon sa SOCO report.. napag-alaman na hindi naisara ito after the operation, and naka-recover ng 6 na forceps," said Supt. Jude Santos, chief, Caloocan Police. The hospital, however, said they do not see any malpractice in the incident. They said they meant to leave the surgical equipment inside the body for the medico-legal to examine. "Our residents did try to coordinate with the funeral parlor to tell them that there were still instruments left there then they have to take care of that, so that the medico-legal officer can take care of them later on," said Campo-Cruz. The Philippine Hospital Association (PHA) sided with the hospital. "Walang kasalanan ang mga duktor doon because, itong pasyente is really, shall we say, literally patay na ang pasyente eh. Binuhay lang nila," said Dr. Leo Olarte, PHA legal counsel. Hannah, however, said she is not accepting the hospital's explanation. Roger's family is planning to sue the hospital for negligence, and for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. Jasmin Romero, ABS-CBN News