Negros Occidental map. INQUIRER FILES
BACOLOD CITY 鈥� Several medical practitioners of the Bago City Hospital in Negros Occidental are facing administrative charges in connection with a complaint over the death of a baby in February this year.
Bago Mayor Nicholas Yulo, acting on the complaint of the baby鈥檚 father on social media, said the fact-finding committee he created found substantial evidence that the medical practitioners involved 鈥渃ommitted lapses in doing their duties and responsibilities and therefore recommend(ed) the filing of an appropriate administrative charge against them.鈥�
Yulo appointed Bago City Legal Officer Aaron Lirazan as the hearing officer for the case.
The mayor withheld the names and number of medical practitioners involved.
Civil Service Commission rules state that the report must be treated as confidential until formal charges have been filed against the personnel concerned.
The Inquirer tried to get a statement from the chief of the Bago City Hospital on March 16 regarding the matter but he had yet to respond.
Yulo said the complaint was made on social media and 鈥渁s the disciplining officer, I took it upon myself to have the matter investigated.鈥�
The father claimed there was negligence on the part of the hospital staff that caused his son to die and his wife to be in critical condition.
His wife was in labor for 12 hours and asked to give birth by cesarean, but her request was not heeded, the father said.
The Bago City government will be the complainant in the case since it involves employees of the Bago City Hospital.
鈥淭his is an isolated case. It is not the practice at the Bago City Hospital that has helped a lot of people,鈥� Yulo said.
The mayor said he condoles with the family of the baby that died and assured that everything would be done according to the process for them to have closure.
鈥淭rust in the process that is required under the law,鈥� Yulo said.
Yulo reminded city employees, especially medical practitioners, to do jobs well to save lives.
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