A woman who just gave birth died of blood loss after she was allegedly refused admission by six hospitals last Friday.
Jan Christian Bulatao said that his wife, Katherine, suffered a complication after giving birth with the help of a midwife inside their house in Barangay 183, Caloocan City.“Masyadong malalim ang isang inunan niya, hindi nailabas,” he said.
Bulatao sought help from barangay officials who took them to six hospitals in six hours.
However, each of the six hospital turned them away. The hospitals said that they could not accept Katherine as they were either fully occupied by COVID-19 patients, their rooms were full, or there were no available blood for transfusion.
Bulatao said that one hospital even asked them to pay an initial amount of R30,000 as deposit before admitting his wife.
Under Republic Act 10932 or the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law, it is illegal for hospitals or clinics to ask a deposit and refuse treatment to patients in emergency or serious cases.
“Ang sabi po nila, hindi po puwede. Bago nila umpisahan ‘yung operasyon, at least may maibigay kami na downpayment,” he said, adding that the hospital even charged them for parking. “Di man lang chineck ang vital niya para malaman namin kung aabot kami sa susunod naming pupuntahan na ospital,” he added.
A private hospital in Bulacan eventually accepted them. But Jan’s wife was declared dead.
“Mahirap na po siyang huminga, at saka bloated na po ‘yung tiyan niya. Lumolobo na po, pati yung diaper niya, basang basa na ng dugo,” he said. “Nauubusan po kada minuto ‘yung asawa ko ng dugo. Nahihirapan na siyang huminga,” he added.
President Duterte has ordered hospitals not to turn away patients during the enhanced community quarantine following the death of a senior citizen in Central Luzon. (Joseph Pedrajas)