Debate erupts on first aid for crime-related injuries

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The purported refusal of a hospital staff to apply first aid or tend to an injured man has sparked an online debate.

A video making rounds on social media captured a policeman in serious talk with an unidentified nurse of the Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

The policeman, Master Sergeant Hizron Baterbonia of Banate Police Station, insisted to a duty nurse to treat a certain Roniel Ferja after he was struck on the head inside a store at Barangay San Salvador.

The nurse told Baterbonia that they couldn’t attend to the victim because the doctors on duty are new and were hired on contractual basis.

But the policeman explained that they were mandated to bring injured persons – whether victim or suspect – to the hospital for treatment.

“Amo na gani nga gin-rush namon sila diri para safe sila. Daw kalain man na batyagon nga indi niyo gid sila madapatan maski first aid lang,” Baterbonia said.

Had the local PNP have their own medical personnel, Baterbonia said they wouldn’t have taken the man to the hospital.

But the nurse stressed that the doctors on duty couldn’t see the victim, they could only attend to the victim once he has a hospital record.

The nurse added that the newly hired doctors were just following hospital “protocol.”

Baterbonia was heard asking the nurse what they would do if the patient is in serious or critical condition.

The nurse replied that they are assessing patients on a case-to-case basis.

A seemingly frustrated Baterbonia told the nurse that they should have communicated with the PNP on that matter so that they would no longer bring patients to their hospital if the doctors on duty are newly hired.

Lieutenant Randy Lambungan, Banate police chief, said the policemen ended up waking a nurse assigned to the Rural Health Unit.

It was learned that the “protocol” was not more on COVID-19 guidelines.

Instead, “the two unidentified nurses refused or rejected the patient for the reason that the doctor on duty was hired on contractual basis,” Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police director, said.

Accordingly, “there was allegedly no one authorized to sign the medical certificate,” Gorero said.

In instances where the case will be filed in court, doctors or attending physicians are required to appear in the trial.

“Maybe, they are having apprehensions to make court appearances once they are no longer assigned to that locality,” Gorero said.

While the PNP understands that situation, Gorero said the matter should be resolved.

“We’re talking here of preservation of life. That’s why we are asking the Iloilo provincial government on what should be done on such cases,” he said.

Gorero said he immediately informed Atty. Suzette Mamon, Iloilo provincial administrator, on the matter.

“Immediately an instruction was made for the Chief of Hospital of Barotac Viejo District Hospital to conduct the necessary investigation at their level,” Mamon said.

She said there’s a need to check on the status of the personnel who were on duty when the incident happened.

They were given until yesterday, August 4, to submit the report.

Once they have the incident report, Mamon said they would assess if there’s a need for the Provincial Legal Office to step in and conduct a probe.

Meanwhile, Gorero said they understand the apprehensions of hospital personnel, especially during this pandemic.

But he claimed that they also have their own protocol, which is preservation of life.

“In the end, we just want to be clarified because hospital personnel are one of our important partners. We want to harmoniously work with them,” he said.