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Ombudsman orders govt doctor in Mindoro dismissed for fatal birth delivery


The Ombudsman ordered dismissed from service a government doctor who allegedly failed to attend personally to a patient who was giving birth, resulting in the death of the patient’s child. Ombudman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered the dismissal of Dr. Idol Bondoc of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Calapan City, for grave misconduct. “While herein respondent was assigned at that particular time by the hospital to be in charge of the patients in the delivery room, he practically delegated his responsibility to the midwives," Gutierrez said. "Such attitude exemplified capriciousness in performing his duties," the Ombudsman said in her decision, excerpts of which were posted on the Ombudsman's website on Sunday. Gutierrez also ordered the cancellation of his eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification for reemployment in government service. Complaint against Bondoc Bondoc's dismissal stemmed from a complaint filed by Marilou Rala Mantala, who said the incident occurred at 9:00 a.m. on April 3, 2009. Mantala claimed that at that time, she was about to deliver her fifth child under the care of Bondoc. While in the hospital, she was stretched out on a cot while her legs were tied. Bondoc reportedly gave instructions to his assistants, and left her alone in the delivery room before returning at 4:00 p.m., or seven hours later. When he returned, he asked her, “hindi ka pa nanganganak (Haven't you given birth yet)?" Attendants then pressed hard on her tummy to induce delivery. She gave birth but passed out due to the pain. When she regained consciousness, the attending nurse told her that her ovary was cut and that her child had died. Mantala also alleged she was discharged from the hospital even if she still had a cough and the thread in her incise wound had not been fixed. The incise wound reportedly forced her to be readmitted back to the hospital for a blood transfusion and to clean her wound. During Mantala’s second confinement, Bondoc allegedly told her “Ikaw ay sadyang ayaw magpa-CS." Mantala also claimed that she heard him say to a nurse, “Huwag sana akong idemanda ni Mantala kasi kaya ko siyang baliktarin." "Wrongful behavior" According to Ombudsman Gutierrez, the statements of the respondent were "strong implications of the respondent’s wrongful behavior in which he failed to refute in this case." She also did not give credence to Bondoc’s argument that the administrative case against him was rendered moot and academic by his resignation as Medical Officer of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital. Quoting the Administrative Adjudication Ombudsman Desk Reference, the Ombudsman said “the separation of the employee subject of an administrative complaint from Government service does not automatically warrant a dismissal of the case, especially if there are accessory penalties [imposed] upon the respondent in case of a finding of guilt, such as forfeiture of retirement benefits or the imposition of a fine." – VVP, GMANews.TV

Tags: ombudsman, birth
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