The Department of Health (DOH) will investigate the complaint against a doctor at Pasay City General Hospital who allegedly stuffed a sanitary pad into the mouth of a 16-year-old girl as she was giving birth.
“We will look into it especially if there is a complaint. We will do the necessary actions and have it investigated,” Health Secretary Janette Garin told reporters on Friday.
According to the teenager’s mother, Elsa Abello, a doctor she identified only as Dr Liza shoved an unused sanitary pad into her daughter’s mouth when she started to shout due to labour pains on Monday night.
Abello, a worker at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, made the allegations in a Radyo Inquirer interview on Thursday.
Later, the young mother, identified only as Dyesabel, gave a statement to The Inquirer. It read: “I waited for 30 minutes. I was already in pain and could no longer control myself. All the doctors were getting angry and saying different things about me. Then they handed me a sanitary napkin and told me to stuff it in my mouth.”
Health Secretary Garin, who is an obstetrician and gynecologist by profession, said the teenager’s behavior was just normal for mothers in labour. “There are even some patients who sing while giving birth. Some cry or call the name of their husband or even curse them. But you don’t put anything in their mouth.”
“Shouting is part of it,” she added.
Dr Liza is also accused of verbal abuse and other charges. The Philippine Medical Association and the Professional Regulation Commission will look into the charges against her and the management of Pasay Hospital for the possible violation of Republic act #7610 (the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).
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