A 31-year-old father sought the assistance of the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH 7) on a complaint he will be filing against a government hospital in Toledo City, Cebu Province.
The desire to file a complaint has stemmed from the amputation of the lower part of his six-year-old son’s left leg.
The lower part of the boy's leg suffered from infection after stitches done to a wound were performed by a nursing attendant, and not a doctor.
The nursing attendant does not reportedly have a license.
The incident happened on February 4, 2025.
The father identified as Daryl Sam Quimada went to DOH 7 in Cebu City morning on Monday, February 17, 2025.
Quimada said that a nursing attendant stitched up the wound, and not a doctor.
After two days, darkening of the affected leg was observed, he said.
In a medical check-up in Talisay City, Cebu this time, a doctor recommended the amputation of the lower section of the affected leg.
On February 8, 2025, the amputation pushed through.
It was learned that the child was wounded while playing. A sliver of a broken glass hit him and left an open wound on his leg.
“Nagduwa, nya nasamad sa bildo, nagisi ang tiil, among gipatahi diha sa Toledo, nya mao to, kinsa may magtuo nga ang nitahi sa akong bata di man diay licensed nga nurse, kay pag-abot namu didto, kami kay nisalig ra baya mi,” Quimada said.
“Atubangon gyud nila [ilang] responsibilidad sa akong anak, kay di lalim baya. Matagaan sad og justice akong bata bitaw,” Quimada added.
According to Dr. Annessa Patindol, chief of DOH-7 Regulation, Licensing, and Enforcement Division, they will be sending a team to Toledo City within the week for a fact-finding investigation.
Patindol said they will investigate on the procedure performed by a staff of the hospital on the patient.
She recommended to the family of the victim to also raise the incident to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) 7 that has the authority to conduct an investigation on the doctor in charge on February 4, 2025.
The doctor will be asked to explain why a nursing attendant was allowed to perform suturing on the wound.
“Naa man ta due process, patubagon nato ang hospital regarding aning imung complaint, ang ilahang tubag atong ipadangat sa imuha, aron makabalo ug makabasa ka. We will also conduct fact-finding investigation, kami mismo, ako ang mag-lead moadto mi sa hospital aron mag-imbestigar. Ang pangutana is kinsa ang dapat motahi, of course ang doctor, kay ang doctor gyud dapat ang moatiman sa pasyente, ang nurse ug nursing attendant naa ra sila to assist, magprepare sa mga gamit, mag-assist sa doctor,” Patindol explained.
Dr. Abjel Khan Espera, chief of hospital of the Toledo City General Hospital, said that they have conducted their own investigation on the incident. The hospital management has also placed the persons involved under suspension.
“As of now the personnel involved atong gi-hold sa sila, wa sa nato gipa-duty while ongoing [ang] investigation, and then I think naa gyuy mga pamaagi bitaw nga murag moingon ang mga parents nga wala sila tarunga og hatag og instructions, at the same time, sa atua sad personnel dire sa hospital, kami pud although we follow sa guidelines, amo sad ma-question ngano wa sad namo ma-perform as alleged,” Espera said.
Aside from seeking justice for his son’s predicament, Quimada also appealed for financial assistance to sustain his son’s medication expenses.
