Tabuk City, Kalinga – In ‘aid of legislation’, concerns on how the Kalinga Provincial Hospital handles patients of vehicular traffic accidents were brought and heard at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on October 13, 2022.
The concerns involved the death of Vehicular Traffic Accident victim Eldridge Wadi Wayet Bacud at the KPH – a 19-year-old Senior High School student. Wadi died due to Brain Herniation, five hours since he was rushed to KPH for medical intervention on September 2, 2022.
Attorney Johnny Wayet, who represented the Wayet-Bacud family, raised the case of the victim and the experiences of the family at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital before the Committee on Human Rights, Public Order and Security and the Committee on Health and Sanitation.
Wayet questioned making protocol of administering Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) a priority when life is at stake. Additionally, he questioned its unreliable result which could delay crucial medical attention which could save life.
Wadi was found positive under RAT upon admission at the hospital, he died 5 hours after being admitted. He was later found to be negative of Covid-19 when the family requested for RT-PCR swabbing after he passed away.
Concerns raised by Atty. Wayet regarding administering RAT to VTA victims
1. Whether Rapid Antigen Test(RAT) shall apply to victims of vehicular accidents, emergencies or where the patient’s life is at stake needing immediate medical/surgical attention
Attorney Wayet noted that Wadi was subjected to RAT upon admission at KPH where he tested positive.
Wayet pointed out that the result of the RAT is a contributory factor to the delay of immediate medical attention. The lawyer also said that the request for CT scan took some time and the hospital staff spent some time wearing their PPEs.
“Since we are still classified to be under pandemic and health protocols are still in place, what are the alternative remedies that the Kalinga Provincial Hospital has adopted to deal with such a situation in order not to put the life of the patient in danger?” he then asked.
“Is it not wise enough that the KPH should have a separate protocol for the hospital to immediately make the necessary arrangement or reference of the patient in emergency cases to hospitals with better medical facilities to save the life of the patient?” he further questioned.
2. Whether decking of patients is covered by health protocols so that even those in dire need of surgical emergencies must wait for their turn to be treated or transported to hospitals with better medical facilities
Wadi was allegedly made to wait for hours since his slot at CVMC was number 25. Wayet emphasized, “there is no decking as far as health protocol is concerned, particularly for patients who need immediate surgical attention.”
The lawyer pointed that KPH, ‘having firsthand knowledge of the patient’s health condition’, should ‘have been persistent enough’ to have the patient be accommodated in other medical facilities.
3. Whether there are lapses in judgment on the part of the concerned personnel of Kalinga Provincial Hospital in treating patients with extreme emergency cases such as in the instant case.
Wayet described that there was approximately 750 ccs of blood scattered at the place of incident and that Wadi suffered multiple lacerations with active bleeding.
“Is it prudent at this point that urgent interventions like blood transfusion and suturing of wounds deemed necessary because this will contribute to the insult and rapid deterioration of the patient’s condition?” he asked.
4. Whether Rapid Antigen Test is conclusive and no longer subject to confirmatory testing in a Molecular Detection Facility?
The lawyer inquired when a specimen be subjected to a confirmatory test at a molecular laboratory.
He recounted that September 2 fell on a Friday, and the laboratory in Barangay Agbannawag is closed after 5PM and on Saturdays and Sundays. For this reason, the family who have ‘no other recourse but to act on their own’ initiated to bring the specimen to Isabela.
Wayet emphasized they wanted to bring home Wadi to give him a decent burial.
“Is it prudent at this point, where health protocols are still in place, that the molecular laboratory should be open 24/7 to cater to the needs of those patients allegedly tested positive for Covid-19?” he pointed.
Attorney Wayet also stressed that the one in charge of the ambulance that ferry patients to Tuguegarao should refrain from asking money from the patient’s family for gas. The lawyer revealed that the driver asked the father of Wadi for P1,000 for gas and the money was not returned even when the supposed travel was canceled.
He also mentioned about some discourteous hospital personnel.
Lastly, Wayet cited the spot report of the PNP-TMU, stating that Wadi was intoxicated and he has no driver’s license and was not wearing a helmet.
The lawyer pointed that there was no breath analyzer or alcohol test conducted and that the victim’s driver’s license and damaged helmet were found later.
‘We are doing this for the people of Kalinga’
At the end of his statement, Wayet stressed that their family has ‘no malicious intent or whatsoever’ on bring out the said concerns but rather, he raised them for the betterment of the services of KPH.
“We are doing this for the people of Kalinga and those who cannot speak for themselves,” he conveyed.
While they are thankful to the services of KPH, Wayet expressed that something has to be done to make things better, if not best, and to prevent errors from being repeated.
LISTEN TO STATION 1 RADIO: CLICK ME
.png)
Comments