DOH starts probe of 8-month-old baby’s death in Cebu hospital

The Department of Health Region 7 on Wednesday started a fact-finding investigation into the death of an eight-month-old baby boy in a Cebu hospital earlier this month.

A committee was formed to look into alleged negligence by St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital on the death of Harry Morgan Ylaya Visaya, GMA Cebu's Lou-Anne Mae Rondina reported.

Wednesday morning's initial meeting of the committee was held behind closed doors, GMA Cebu's Vic Serna reported.

Dr. Sophia Mancao, head of the fact-finding committee formed to investigate the matter, said their investigation does not cover alleged medical malpractice as claimed by the baby's kin.

But Mancao said that if their investigation warrants, there is a possibility the specialty hospital could lose its license.

DOH-7 legal counsel Atty. Madyll Robinta added that if the baby's family wants to pursue charges of medical malpractice against the hospital, they should lodge a complaint with the Professional Regulations Commission.

Baby Harry died June 7, with his parents accusing the staff of St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital of neglecting him. The hospital denied the claim.

The child was brought to the hospital June 2, after showing symptoms of diarrhea.

His mother Marifhe Ylaya wanted the staff to administer dextrose to the baby but the staff merely had her buy medicine and discharged him.

Marifhe returned the next day to make sure the baby was fine, but she said the hospital staff took its time attending to the child.

"Nagtawanan sila (nang) sinabi kong okay pa ba ang anak ko, dahil binalot ng kumot tapos iyak ng iyak. Sabi ng nurse na ano ma’am, papatusok ba kayo o hindi dahil sasabihan ko ang doctor. Sabi ko papatusok pero tingnan mo ang anak nakakaawa," she said.

"Pumunta ang duktor, tiningnan niya ang dextrose at sabi niya bukas na niya lalagyan ng dextrose ang bata dahil gabi na. Hindi na niya makita ng maayos. Sabi ko sure ba kayo doc, okay lang ba ang anak ko doc?" she added.

When the dextrose ran out, the staff allegedly did not administer any more dextrose, prompting the Ylaya family to ask the staff to allow the baby's transfer to a private hospital, lest he be dehydrated.

But the Ylayas said the attending physician refused to do so. The baby was eventually transferred to another public hospital and died June 7.

Earlier, the management of St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital maintained its medical personnel did their jobs. Chief of hospital Dr. Roberto Denopol said they will form a panel to investigate the incident.

Denopol also said they are ready for any legal measure the baby's family may take against them. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News