By MB Online
Several groups condemned Ramon Tulfo's actions and behavior at the Philippine General Hospital's emergency room last Thursday where he brought a child who was bumped by his driver.
In a statement, the Philippine General Hospital Physician’s Association (PGHPA) slammed Tulfo's "contemptible acts."
Ramon Tulfo
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
"His team videotaped the events at the ER triage while he was verbally abusing the staff members on duty as a minor he brought to the ER was being assessed," PGHPA stated.
The physicians' group noted that Tulfo did cyberbullying and doctor shaming which "demean the health care workers’ and patients’ rights to privacy."
The All UP Academic Employees Union-Manila Chapter, in defense of resident physicians and consultants of the Philippine General Hospital, called Tulfo's behavior "abusive and atrocious".
"The actions of Mr. Tulfo are not only grossly irresponsible but also patently endanger the lives of other patients under the care of the PGH ER staff. Furthermore, Mr. Tulfo’s video clearly violates the fundamental rights of both the PGH personnel and the patients. The union also unequivocally condemns attempts at doctor shaming instigated by Mr. Tulfo through various platforms on social media," the union added.
The union then urged PGH administration and UP Manila to "direct and formal action" against the Filipino broadcaster.
UP's 42nd Medicine Student Council echoed the sentiment, calling for the conviction of Tulfo.
"The whole situation is as what the government has been doing to the country, deflecting the attention from the reality of corruption, incompetence, and ignorance of some of its high-ranking officials," they stated.
"His actions, masked by the intention to help, produced more chaos and confusion. Given the current state of our hospital’s emergency room, his exhibition of rude and rudimentary behavior caused loss time, focus and attention of the staff, at the expense of other patients," the student council added.
Tulfo, amid all the criticisms, hit on Filipino doctors anew, specifically those working in PGH.
"Mas lalo kayong bumaba sa paningin ng taumbayan dahil sa isyu sa video ng doktor na ayaw asikasuhin ang batang pasyente," he wrote.
"Ang karamihan ng doktor at staff sa PGH emergency room ay parang manhid na sa paligid nila. Parang wala silang pakialam sa mga pasyente."
The broadcaster also explained that the child he brought to the ER was already vomiting and in a bad condition.
Tulfo also likened the hospital to a wet market.
"Nang dumating kami sa PGH emergency room, parang palengke ito at hindi ospital. Maraming pasyente na nakahiga sa sahig at hindi inaasikaso," he continued.
He then defended why his team recorded the situation.
"Initially, we planned to record the condition of the child for future legal reference at hindi yung doktor na titingin sana sa bata. But the doctor refused to look over the patient, driving me to get upset," he stated. (Noreen Jazul)