Doctor facing charges after allegedly molesting patient

A doctor is facing charges after allegedly molesting his patient in a hospital in Makati City, according to John Consulta’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday.

The report said the doctor was supposed to perform a medical procedure on  "Vergel," 18, due to pain in his appendix on March 7 this year.

“Nagtataka ako kung bakit malayo yung pupuntahan namin, pero hindi niya ako ina-assist kahit sa swero ko or bigyan niya man lang ako ng wheelchair,” Vergel said.

(I was wondering why he did not even assist me or provide a wheelchair when he went to a room.)

CCTV footage showed that they both entered a room on the second floor of the hospital where the victim said he was about to undergo an ultrasound but there was no equipment in the said room.

According to the victim, the suspect molested him when they entered the room.

The footage also showed the patient running out of the room and the doctor following him.

“Pinilit kong tumakbo sa third floor kahit masakit yung tyan ko, natutulog noon si lola tapos ginising ko siya sabi ko umalis na tayo dito,” Vergel said.

(I forced myself to run to the third floor even though my stomach hurts. I woke up my grandmother and told her that we must leave the hospital.)

The victim went to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to complain about the alleged harassment by the doctor.

“Siguro po ang iniisip nitong doctor hindi mararamdaman nung biktima dahil nga may anesthesia na pero nagkamali po itong subject natin dahil naramdaman pa rin at nakita nung bata yung ginawang panghahalay sa kanya,” Jun Dongallo, regional director of NBI-NCR, said.

(Maybe the doctor thought that the victim will not be able to feel it because there is anesthesia, but the patient still felt it and saw what was done to him.)

“Tinutukan ito ng NBI para mabigyan din ng hustisya kung ano man ang nangyari dito sa ating complainant. Ito rin ay isang avenue na tawagin kung sino man ang posibleng naging biktima na lumantad dito sa aming opisina para maimbestigahan din namin ang kanilang mga kaso,” NBI spokesperson Giselle Garcia-Dumlao said.

(The NBI focused on this case to give justice to the victim. This is also an avenue to call anyone who has been a victim to report to our office so that we can also investigate their cases.)

GMA News went to the Makati hospital to get the side of the doctor and the management on the incident.

The hospital has yet to issue a statement, while the doctor has allegedly resigned from the hospital.

The NBI has filed charges of acts of lasciviousness against the doctor, while the victim said he would push for the cancellation of his medical license.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News