Cebu City councilor seeks probe on death of 91-year-old aunt
CEBU CITY – A city councilor has sought an investigation on the death of her 91-year-old aunt whom she said died “for the flimsiest and most outrageous of reasons.”
Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos said her aunt Milagros died after she was allegedly declined acceptance at the emergency room of Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH) here on Friday, Sept. 23.
“The reason given was that the hospital was that the hospital had no staff to cater to her emergency that day,” De los Santos said.
De los Santos said her aunt was “looking forward to a few more years in the comfort of family and friends.”
“But that wasn’t meant to be last Friday – for the flimsiest and most outrageous reasons,” she said.
De los Santos turned emotional while narrating the circumstances of her aunt’s death through a privilege speech that she delivered before the City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
According to De los Santos, her aunt experienced shortness of breath that prompted the family to call the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) at 2:40 p.m. on Friday.
The ERUF ambulance arrived at the patient’s house at 2:48 p.m. The ambulance carrying the councilor’s aunt arrived at the hospital at 3:07 p.m.
“The hospital failed to assess the patient and outrightly dismissed her by saying, ‘we have no staff,’” the lady councilor said.
At 3:27 p.m., the patient was brought back to her home in Barangay Lahug here.
De los Santos said that although her aunt had disembarked from the ambulance, ERUF personnel opted not to leave after noticing that the elderly woman was still having difficulty in breathing.
De Los Santos said the ERUF personnel “took the chance” to bring her aunt to another private hospital in Mandaue City but the patient was declared dead on arrival.
The councilor raised four questions during the privilege speech.
“Could she have a chance to be saved if Perpetual Succour’s emergency room was functioning as this was the closest to her?” she asked.
“Is it acceptable that a Level 3 hospital cannot provide emergency service and community is not informed about it,” De los Santos said.
She added: “Is it not the duty of the hospital leadership to inform the public in certain services especially the emergency room is not available and provide alternative information on where the patient can go? Should hospitals not work with each other and focus on the important mission which is patient care?”
Because of the incident, De los Santos has asked the Department of Health and the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. to investigate the private hospital.
In a statement released to the media, the hospital’s legal officer said the matter will be looked into.
“Will have to refer this matter to the management of PSH for proper investigation. As soon as the investigation results will come out, PSH will appropriately comment on the mater,” said lawyer Ray Bael.