A 31-year-old woman died while giving birth in Lapu-Lapu City. Her baby boy also expired during the Caesarian Section (CS) operation performed on her.  

In a video posted by relatives of 31-year-old Elsie Baflor Patambang, they showed froth accumulating in the mouth of the patient.

It was learned that on July 31, 2025, at about 7 a.m., Elsie was rushed to the Carajay Children’s and Maternity Clinic in Barangay Gun-ob upon experiencing labor contractions.

According to Elsie's sibling, Mitchaida Baflor Sumampong, midwives at the maternity clinic advised that Elsie needs to undergo emergency CS operation.

It was the clinic's obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyne) who referred the patient to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital as the said doctor will perform the CS operation at the said hospital.

From the maternity clinic, Elsie was taken to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital on board a tricycle.

However, while Elsie was still at the labor room, according to her sister, the ob-gyne went out and asked of the patient’s medical history.

The doctor tried reportedly to revive the patient, but Elsie expired along with the newborn boy.

According to Elsie's husband, Mario Patambag, he could not accept the news of her death, citing that his wife was healthy while in pregnancy.

The baby boy would have been their second child, he said.

He was also taken aback, he said, when the ob-gyne asked for his wife’s medical history when it was the ob-gyne who performed pre-natal check-up on his wife. Mario said it was never mentioned in any of the check-ups that Elsie had health issues.

Further, Mario would want to know the substance injected allegedly by a hospital staff  member into the thigh of his wife that could have possibly fueled the accumulation of froth in the mouth of the dead body.

Morever, Mario said that wounds on the face of the baby boy have perplexed him as well.

He demands an explanation from members of the attending hospital staff.

GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak sought a statement from the ob-gyne involved, but according to staff members of the maternity clinic, the doctor has not reported since August 3, 2025.

The news team tried to reach out to the doctor through another clinic in Barangay Gun-ob, but the facility is closed.

The Lapu-Lapu City Hospital administrator pointed out the ob-gyne is not an employee of the hospital, but there is an existing agreement between them and the ob-gyne to perform CS operation at the hospital on patients with challenging obstetric care needs, or serious health conditions.

Dr. Lynart Omnes, Lapu-Lapu City Hospital administrator, also pointed out that a skin test was done on the arm, but there was no injection done on the thigh of the patient.

Omnes said that it is the ob-gyne who can shed light on what exactly happened during the CS operation.

The hospital has conducted its own investigation on the incident, Omnes added.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cindi King-Chan and Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative  Junard Chan have visited the wake of Elsie and her baby, and expressed sympathy to the grieving family and relatives.

The Patambag family has also sought assistance at the Lapu-Lapu City Police for an autopsy on the bodies of Elsie and the baby. 

A meeting between Elsie's family and the ob-gyne, with officials of the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital, is set afternoon on Monday, August 4, 2025.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF LAPU-LAPU CITY HOSPITAL 

"This is to officially clarify the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate death of a patient and her baby at Lapu-Lapu City Hospital."

"The patient was initially admitted to Carajay Maternity, a privately owned lying-in clinic that operates independently from Lapu-Lapu City Hospital. She was referred to our Emergency Room at approximately 11:00 AM on July 31, 2025, due to face presentation, a high-risk obstetric condition requiring immediate surgical intervention. Upon arrival, two scheduled cases were bumped off to accommodate the patient for an emergency caesarean section, as she was classified as a priority and was under the care of her private OB-Gyne, who was actively managing her case."

"Following her arrival, the attending physician immediately instructed Emergency Room personnel to prepare the patient for urgent transfer to the Operating Room (OR). As part of standard pre-operative protocol, a skin test was conducted on the patient’s arm to evaluate for any allergic reaction to the prescribed antibiotic. No other injections or medications were administered at any point prior to her transfer to the OR complex."

"At the Operating/Delivery Room complex, the patient was assessed by the attending OB-Gyne. An ongoing surgical case in the OR caused a brief delay, which was explained clearly to the patient’s family."

"As soon as the prior operation was completed and preparations for surgery began, the patient suddenly experienced respiratory distress, became hemodynamically unstable, and developed hypoxemia. Excessive salivation was also noted prior to her transfer to the OR table. The medical team immediately intervened, intubation was performed, and an emergency caesarean section commenced, alongside continuous resuscitation efforts, in an attempt to save both the mother and the infant."

"The baby was delivered with a weak heartbeat, which unfortunately deteriorated despite aggressive resuscitation measures performed by the pediatrician. The newborn did not survive. The probable cause of the mother’s sudden deterioration and death was amniotic fluid embolism—a rare, sudden, and often fatal obstetric complication that can occur unpredictably and for which there is currently no known prevention."

"Lapu-Lapu City Hospital assures the public that all standard medical protocols and emergency procedures were followed. We remain committed to full transparency and are cooperating with any investigations that may be initiated by the family or appropriate authorities."

"Our deepest condolences go out to the bereaved family during this difficult time."