Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday relieved a city-owned hospital director after its obstetrics and gynecological section refused to admit a young pregnant mother who was due to give birth on that date.

Relieved of her post as director of Gat. Andres Bonifacio Memorial and Medical Center (GABMMC) was Dr. Evangeline Morales on theory of command responsibility after the hospital refused to accept patient Leslie de la Fiesta, 17, of 770 J. Planas St., Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila, last June 26 who was about to give birth on the same date.

Report reaching Lim during the People’s Day weekly forum with Manila barangays said De la Fiesta, who was grimacing in pain, was accompanied by her aunt to the hospital to give birth. It was known later that the head of the infant was slightly appearing but despite this, she was refused admission because of the policy of the hospital that if a patient did not undergo pre-natal check she will not be admitted to the OB-Gyne section.

It was with the help of another doctor who was only identified by the complainant as "Dr. Ruffy," a certain neurologist, who attended to De la Fiesta and loaded her in a taxi which took her to the Ospital ng Manila where she was admitted and eventually gave birth.

Lim fielded Dr. Fidel Chua , director of Ospital ng Maynila (OSMA) to replace Morales as head of the GBMMC while Morales was placed in a floating status at the Manila Health Department under City Health Officer Lorreine Sanchez.

Lim pointed out that his instruction was clear that in emergency cases no patient will be denied admission and proper medical attention must be given to them, be they rich or poor, who are residents of Manila.

For her part, Morales vehemently denied the accusation made during the forum that the hospital refused to admit the pregnant woman, saying she would not accept the new job assigned to her by the mayor.

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006