Anesthesia in circumcision caused 10-year-old boy’s death, says police

A brain hemorrhage possibly resulting from anesthesia caused the death of a 10-year-old boy during his circumcision procedure in Tondo, Manila last May, according to the police’s autopsy report.

“Ibig sabihin ay may nakitang pagdurugo sa isang parte ng utak ng bata at posibleng may kaugnayan dito yung pagturok ng anesthesia,” said Manila Police District (MPD) Homicide Division chief PCapt. Dennis Turla in Mark Salazar’s report in “24 Oras” on Monday. 

(This means there was a hemorrhage in a portion of the victim’s brain and this could be related to the anesthesia that was injected.) 

The MPD Homicide Division had filed charges against the suspect for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. 

The suspect, who owns the lying-in clinic where the operation was conducted, introduced herself as a doctor. 

But authorities found out she is a licensed midwife but not a physician. She was arrested but was released on bail. 

The victim’s mother, Marjorie San Agustin, is still grieving her son’s death. 

“Bahala na po yung batas sa kanya. Hinihiling ko rin po na matapos na po ito, yung makulong na yung ‘doktor’. Kasi di ko rin alam kung paano magsisimula,” she said. 

(Let justice decide what to do with her. I’m just hoping that the case be done, and that ‘doctor’ ends up in jail. I really don’t know how to start again after this.) 

Aside from the autopsy report and San Agustin’s testimony, the testimony of the secretary at the lying-in clinic will also serve as evidence in the case. 

The secretary said she was only aware that her former boss was a midwife. She added that it could have been the anesthesia that caused the boy’s death as he was restless during the operation. 

“Sa bibig po niya may bula na…Pero malakas po siya hanggang sa matapos yung tuli. Kinakausap ko po siya para sa ma-relax siya,” she said. 

(His mouth was foaming…But he was strong until the end of the procedure. I was talking to him to help him relax.) 

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the suspect for a comment. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News