11-year-old boy dies after second anesthesia shot during circumcision

An 11-year-old boy from Mulanay, Quezon allegedly died after receiving a second dose of anesthesia before circumcision.

In a "24 Oras" report by John Consulta, grieving parents Marlon and Jenny Reaño are still in shock over the sudden loss of their only child, L.A. Reaño.

“Sobrang sakit po. Hindi po namin alam ang gagawin. Gumuho ang mundo para sa amin dahil ang kaisa-isa naming anak po yun,” said Marlon Reaño.

(The pain is unbearable. We don’t know what to do. Our world collapsed because he was our only child.)

“Pakahirap po. Sobrang hirap. Yung ulit ko po, nasa panaginip lamang po yun,” added Jenny Reaño.

(It’s so difficult. It feels like this is all just a bad dream.)

The parents said the incident occurred in April at a local clinic in Mulanay. They even captured a video of the procedure. Before the actual circumcision began, their son started convulsing after receiving a second shot of anesthesia. He was declared dead on the spot.

“Pulang-pula, tatlong taon kaming hindi biniyayaan ng anak. Noong dumating siya sa amin, sobrang saya namin,” said Jenny, tearfully recalling the joy of raising their only son.

(We waited three years before we were blessed with a child. When he came into our lives, we were so happy.)

“Sabi namin, gagawin namin ang lahat para mabigyan lang ng magandang kinabukasan yung anak namin. Tapos gano'n lang gagawin ng doktor ngayon. Akala namin safe siya noon dahil doktor nga siya,” she added.

(We told ourselves we’d do everything to give our son a good future. Then the doctor did this. We thought he was safe because he was a doctor.)

Jenny is calling for accountability.

“Sana po matanggalan siya ng lisensiya, makulong, mapasara ang klinik. Lahat po ng puwedeng kaso.”

(I hope he loses his license, imprisoned, and the clinic is shut down. Whatever charges can be filed, we will pursue them.)

The couple has sought help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), personally showing the death certificate of their son to officials.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said a thorough investigation is underway.

“Ayon din nga sa ating medico-legal, yung pagkaka-inject na yun parang hindi tama. Nagkaroon ng aneurysm at parang naapektuhan yung utak agad ng bata, eh patay agad,” Santiago said.

(According to our medico-legal officer, the injection didn’t seem right. It caused an aneurysm and seemed to have affected the child’s brain immediately, causing instant death.)

“Narinig ko sa ama ng bata, pangalawang turok. Eh bakit dalawa ang turok? Tama ang dapat na dosage ng pampamanhid,” he added.

(I heard from the child’s father that it was the second shot. Why were there two shots? The anesthesia dosage should be correct.)

Santiago confirmed that the doctor involved will be subpoenaed and summoned to explain.

GMA Integrated News has attempted to reach out to the doctor involved through calls and text messages but has yet to receive a response. — Sherylin Untalan/BAP, GMA Integrated News