NUEVA ECIJA — The National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) has until April 24 to submit a preliminary report on its
probe of hospitals in Nueva Ecija that turned away an elderly patient who
eventually died.
Justice
Secretary Menardo Guevarra said hospital officials and personnel face charges
for violation of Republic Act 8344 or an Act Penalizing the Refusal of
Hospitals to Administer Initial Medical Treatment in Emergency Cases and RA
10932 or the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law.
Ladislao
Cabling, 65, a resident of Cabanatuan, who had asthma, reportedly experienced
difficulty in breathing.
Six hospitals
rejected Cabling, saying there was no vacant room at their intensive care unit,
his daughter Girlie Cagaoan said in a television interview.
In one of the
hospitals, Cagaoan said a nurse told them her father had symptoms of
coronavirus disease 2019 without conducting a test.
She lamented
that no one in the hospitals administered even first aid treatment to her
father.
On Monday,
President Duterte said he received reports about the incident.
He warned
officials of government hospitals that those who would reject patients face
dismissal or suspension.
Duterte
ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute those who would deprive
patients of immediate medical attention.
Guevarra gave
assurance that the DOJ would act on similar complaints.
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