DOH to probe infant's death after hospital's alleged refusal to admit without deposit

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial on Thursday said a probe will be launched into the death of an infant who was allegedly refused care in a hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) without an initial deposit.

"We will investigate," Ubial said in a text to GMA News Online. "Regional Office 9 will investigate! They have process."

Pagadian City Mendero Hospital allegedly refused to treat one-month-old Chelsey Jane for her fever on Monday when her mother Rebbeca Iyas could not pay the additional P10,000 they required besides the P10,000 ICU downpayment.

Iyas also could not discharge Chelsey's body from the hospital as she could not settle their P10,732.15 hospital bill.

Hospital medical director Doctor Jaime Navaro said they do not require an initial deposit unless the patient is admitted to the ICU.

Chelsey's physician Doctor Helen Maño said she warned Iyas that there was no guarantee that her daughter would have survived even when placed in the ICU.

The administration of Pagadian City Mendero Hospital promised to conduct an investigation into Chelsey's death and face the complaint of the Iyas family.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed a bill into law earlier in August that may take away the license of any facility that refuses to administer medical treatment and support to patients in emergency or serious medical conditions without a deposit. —KG, GMA News