Cebu doctors could lose licenses over scandal

CEBU CITY, Philippines - A video posted on YouTube showing doctors laughing while removing an object from a patient’s rectum may lead to charges against the surgeons and cost them their medical licenses, officials said Wednesday. And even after the apology by Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) officials, the patient is still considering filing a civil suit for damages against the medical team. He said he will file the case unless VSMMC imposes sanctions on the doctors and nurses and he is satisfied with the penalties. If he is not satisfied with VSMMC’s action on the medical team, there will be a “legal battle," said his lawyer Guiller Ceniza. In other developments of the case: * The president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said that if doctors are found violating medical ethics, they could be expelled from the association * The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has launched a fact-finding investigation on the incident to determine the liability of VSMMC officials, doctors, and nurses * VSMMC has scheduled a press conference on Friday to announce the result of their investigation. The hospital is also set to discuss recommendations on how to prevent a similar incident as well as reveal the list of doctors and nurses involved in the operation * A nursing student suspected to have posted the video on YouTube was not able to graduate because of a pending investigation on the incident by the school The unauthorized 2:54-minute video of a noisy operating room shows VSMMC doctors and nurses laughing, giggling and cheering. At one point, a hand appears with a cell phone camera taking a close-up picture of the surgery. As a doctor gingerly pulls out the six-inch long canister from the male patient’s rectum, someone shouts, “Baby out!" amid loud cheers. The doctor then removes the canister cap and sprays the contents toward the crowd of nurses and doctors viewing the procedure. It remains unclear who shot the video and who posted it on YouTube, but the person who posted it removed it from the website yesterday. Sun.Star Cebu was told by an informant that the video was uploaded by a nursing student. Basak-Pardo Barangay Captain Dave Tumulak, who helped the patient raise the complaint, said he also got the same information from his sources. Tumulak said the student was not able to graduate because of a pending investigation by the school on the incident. Commission on Higher Education (Ched) 7 Director Enrique Grecia will look into the matter when he comes back to Cebu on Monday from an official trip to Bohol. “The behavior shown in the video is not acceptable. It is not within the realm of human reason. I will check the school once it is identified, get its side and the student’s side before we give sanctions," he said. Tumulak said several VSMMC doctors called him up for help in requesting hospital management to name the persons involved in the case so that those not involved will not be dragged into the case. Dr. Jose Sabili, president of the Philippine Medical Association, yesterday said the group will conduct an investigation if a formal complaint is filed and doctors found violating medical ethics could be suspended or expelled from the association, which would result in the suspension or termination of their state health insurance accreditation. The results of the investigation could also be used by the Professional Regulation Commission to suspend or revoke their licenses, Sabili said. “I believe what they did was very blatant," he said. Health Undersecretary Alexander Padilla said the Health Department will conduct a separate investigation. The president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter has also condemned the incident. Lawyer Briccio Boholst wants the incident investigated and those responsible sanctioned. Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Santiago said their fact-finding investigation will not be bound by the hospital investigation report. Nevertheless, she wants a copy of their findings. She did not comment when asked if the apology by hospital management constituted an admission of fault. Santiago said they want to find out the identity of the doctors and support staff involved in the operation. Santiago said she wants the complainant to drop by the anti-graft office and issue an official statement. The fact-finding investigation, however, will push though without it. In a dyLA radio interview, Ceniza said there was no question on the medical procedure. “Most likely, what we can file is a civil action for damages. We are still studying the criminal aspect as there was no negligence on the medical procedure of the doctors. But for taking video footages and making fun of the whole thing is a violation of the patient’s right to privacy," Ceniza said. He described the doctor-patient confidentiality as “privileged communication" similar to the privacy of matters between a lawyer and his or her client as or a priest and a penitent. Ceniza also questioned why, based on the video, people without gloves were allowed to enter the operating room, which is supposed to be a sterile area. The Commission on Human Rights agreed that there was a violation of medical ethics and in the confidentiality between the doctor and the patient while the Archdiocese of Cebu reminded the Catholic flock to respect the human dignity. - Sun.Star Cebu