FLORIDABLANCA – The parents of a 4-year-old dengue patient who died in Romana Pangan District Hospital (RPDH) asked for justice yesterday.

According to April Joy Calma Lopez, the case of her daughter Aichelle Mitch was not properly handled by the hospital personnel   for  failure to diagnose the real condition.

Aichelle Mitch was confined RPDH last August 14 to 16.

“Ang nangyari po, August 14, 2013 ay sinuri ang kanyang dugo (platelet test), ang resulta po negative sa dengue at normal po ang bilang platelets bagay na nilalagnat pa ring ang bata,” the mother stated in her letter addressed to Governor Lilia Pineda.

The following day, the patient again undergone platelet test which according to hospital personnel is still normal despite the continuing fever.

“August 16, 8:00 am, nag rounds ang doctor, humingi po ako ng referral sa doctor upang ipasuri sa labas ng hospital ang dugo na pasyente, NH1 at NH2, dakong 11:00am, may resulta na dengue stage 3, at ibinigay sa may nurse’s station ang resulta ng NH1, subalit hanggang 4:00pm walang dumating na doctor,” April Joy further stated in her letter.

Around 3:00pm, despite the critical condition of the child, she was not look into by any  doctor in the hospital.

“Nangininig na at nangingitim na ang mga labi, wala pa ring doctor na dumating, ang mga nurses, ang sabi naman normal lang daw ang panginginig hanggang sa binigyan na lang ng oxygen ang pasyente umabot na sa kalagayang comatose,” the mother narrated.

April Joy recalled that she has been shouting for help from the hospital doctors and employees but to no avail.

She said, it was   Dr. Carlota Caloma, a private doctor who is only visiting a patient listen and advised her to transfer her daughter as Romana Pangan District Hospital could no longer  give the needed  medical attention due to the seriousness of the case.

“Bago pa ilipat ang pasyente, hiningan pa kami ng P300 para sa ambulansiya ng walang resibo o anuman,” April Joy stated.

Gov. Pineda calls for probe
Upon learning this incident, Governor Pineda said she would push a thorough investigation to hold the negligent hospital personnel accountable and responsible for the death of the patient if there is any.

She said she would not tolerate the erring employees if established that there is lapses on their part   in coming up with the correct diagnosis on the two separate platelets tests conducted.

Aside from this, the provincial government vowed to provide assistance to the grieving family members.