Bacolod hospital: We did best to save woman pregnant with twins

A hospital in Bacolod City denied medical negligence in the death of an ailing pregant woman with twins, who was reportedly made to wait in line at the hospital.

In a statement, the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) insisted it did its best to save Mary Joy Geronca and her twins when she was rushed to the emergency room on January 16.

The hospital said it was committed to giving "compassionate health services to our patients and the death of Ms. Geronca and her twin babies is way beyond the intention of the hospital."

"Even if the hospital is fully committed in fulfilling its purpose as a medical institution, it can only do as much as stretching its limits in extending medical care to all of its patients in spite of the challenges it faces in terms of its inherent limited capacity versus the quantity of the patients it caters everyday," it added.

Earlier report said Geronca, who was eight months pregnant, was brought to the hospital on the evening of January 16 due to severe cardiopulmonary distress.

Her father, Jose Cesar Penario, said her daughter was not immediately attended to, noting that a nurse had asked her to line up and wait for her turn despite her condition. 

After 30 minutes, Joshua Canete, the partner of the victim, together with the family, saw that Geronca was already being revived by doctors.

In its statement, the CLMMRH recounted details of the incident and revealed that Geronca had actually visited the hospital more than a month earlier.

"As much as CLMMRH is more than willing to address the pressing issues on the said matter, the best that the hospital can do is to give the surrounding facts based on hospital records," read the statement.

Geronca was first seen in the Out Patient Department (OPD) Service of the hospital on December 5, 2016 due to complaints of experiencing occasional palpitations, the hospital said.

She was referred to a cardiologist and was scheduled for a follow-up check-up on December 8, 2016, but she failed to return.

Geronca came back on December 18, 2016 because of cough and fever. She was advised to be admitted to the hospital but she refused.

She was given antibiotics and was advised to have a pre-natal check-up scheduled the following week. 

However, the patient only returned to the hospital almost a month later, on January 16, at the OB emergency room when she was already suffering from severely congested lungs and hypertension.

"This is as well to emphasize that there was no fetal heart tones appreciated upon admission," read the statement.

She went through a series of cardiopulmonary arrest and was revived after resuscitation and intubation, the hospital said.

However, on January 17, at 8:40 a.m., she succumbed and was pronounced dead at 8:50 a.m., following her third cardiopulmonary arrest.

"Routine post-mortem care and appraisals were made with the immediate family in attendance," said Dr. Julius Drilon, medical center chief, contrary to reports that the hospital staff were negligent of the incident.

The CLMMRH also expressed its sympathy to the mourning family and loved ones of Geronca.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros earlier asked the Department of Health to investigate the hospital. A group called the Task Force Crusaders said it would lodge a complaint before the office of Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rossell-Ubial on Monday.

The National Bureau of Investigation in Bacolod City is already looking into the incident. — Anna Felicia Bajo/MDM, GMA News