On Medical Ethics vs the Canister Scandal in Cebu

Secretary Francisco Duque III of Department of Health released the names of the alleged medical practitioners, who were involved in the canister scandal in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. They were; Dr. Philips Leo Arias (Head Surgeon), Fr. Angelo Alinawagan (Assistant Surgeon), Dr. Max Joseph Montecillo (Surgeon), Rosemarie Villareal (Nursing Attendant), and Carmina Sapio (Circulating Nurse), while the person who took the video and uploaded in you tube was still to be determined.

According to Sec. Duque, the violations of the alleged doctors were:

1. Operating team lang ang dapat nasa loob ng operating room (Assigned operating team are the only person should be inside the operating room).
2. Bawal ang cellphone tuwing operasyon (Using cell phone is prohibited during operation).
3. Bawal kumuha ng video nang walang pahintulot ng pasyente (Taking video is now allowed without permission of the patient).
4. Paggalang sa karapatan ng pasyente (Patient’s right of privacy).

Sec. Duque mentioned that this kind of act must not be tolerated especially with the violation of the rights of the patient. He said that the only administrative case will be filed on the alleged medical staff, where the filing of criminal case lies on the Office of the Ombudsman and termination of license of the doctors is under the decision of the Professional Regulation Board.

All the controversies roots from the 29-year-old patients who undergone surgery where a callboy inserted canister inside his anus. During his operation one of the medical team started to take pictures and videos using a mobile phone and uploaded it You Tube. In the video the laughing and mocking of the medical team was heard.

Ang Sa Wari Ko: Do I need to air my opinion? It is a clear prove of violation aside from medical guidelines that the doctors and medical staff should know, but simply violation of human rights, of privacy and the idea of respecting the person despite of what happen. I may not be a doctor to know the guidelines but I am a person who knows the right of privacy and respect for myself and to others.

Image courtesy of TV Patrol World.





Subscribe to Email Blast