Clinic where woman died after aesthetic procedures temporarily closed

The Icon Clinic, the facility where businesswoman Shiryl Saturnino died after undergoing three aesthetic procedures, was temporarily closed for lacking certain permits and questions about its business practices.

The Icon Clinic lacks a permit for ambulatory surgical services from the Department of Health, according to a report by Emil Sumangil on 24 Oras

"Pupwede talaga silang mag-operate po dun sa clinic po na yun. Baka po may pag-labag po ng permit nila dun sa ginawa nilang mga procedures," said Mandaluyong City legal counsel Jeffrey Omadto, who nonetheless noted that the clinic is registered and regularly pays its dues.

There were also questions about the two companies listed as the clinic's operator and owner.

"Dalawa po yung ginawa nilang company: Yung Managed Care (Phils. Inc.) at tsaka yung Icon. Actually, ang nakalagay dun is Managed Care, nakakuha sila ng permit. Pero ang nagpapatakbo ng clinic is yung Icon," Mandaluyong City Medical Director Dr. Zaldy Carpeso said.

"Medyo may problema po doon."

Saturnino passed away at 3 a.m. on Sunday after all her procedures have been completed at the Icon Clinic, where she had long been a customer.

The report on "24 Oras" revealed that she underwent liposuction, butt, and breast augmentation at the same time.

Carpeso said multiple aesthetic procedures could be performed at the same time if patients could weather the stress of undergoing simultaneous multiple operations.

"Pwede naman kita operahan sa breast, pwede rin kita i-augment sa buttocks, pwede rin tayo sa liposuction, kung kaya ng pasyente. Kasi bago naman kami mag-opera, meron kaming sinasabing CP clearance," Carpeso explained.

"Hindi naman kita ooperahan ng CP clearance. So ibig sabihin, 'pag nagbigay ang doktor ng CP clearance, tutuloy ko yung operasyon sa 'yo," he continued.

Police have taken the statements of the personnel who operated on Saturnino and her family.

While Saturnino's parents believe that they should have been notified of her procedures, Mandaluyong City Police Chief Sr. Supt. Joaquin Alva said on QRT that the clinic may not have felt the need to ask for the victim's next of kin as she was of age.

"Sa tingin ko lang 'to, personal opinion ko lang 'to, age of majority na siya, siguro hindi na nag-seek ng clearance yung doktor kasi age of majority na nga yung patient eh," he explained.

Once enough material evidence has been gathered, a case conference will be called to see if there was negligence involved in Saturnino's death.

Her histopathology examination may take a month before it is completed.

"Lahat ng mga tissue, sa loob ng katawan, mga organs, sa loob ng katawan ng biktima, kukuha siya ng samples, para ma-determine kung ano talaga ang cause of death ng tao. Mas masusi ito na pag-aaral," Eastern Police District Director P/C Supt. Romeo Sapitula said.

Suspects face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide if it is proven that Saturnino died from an act of negligence. —Rie Takumi/JST, GMA News