Secretary Garin Orders Probe on Death of Newborn Baby Boy at Cebu Hospital

Health Secretary Janette Garin on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the death of a newborn baby boy on June 5 at a state-run hospital in Cebu City.

Garin, who was in Cebu City, said the cause of death must be determined, noting that the cause of death in the child’s death certificate was not indicated.

“That is standard procedure to indicate the cause of death,” Garin said.

Garin said the hospital should conduct the investigation even without a formal complaint from the child’s parents.

The child’s mother, Edalene Añosa, 32, of Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, said her son who he wanted to name John Niño died at the hands of doctors hours after she delivered him at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City last June 5.

Anosa said her husband Roldan initially brought her to the Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, but he transferred her to the VSMMC when she went into labor.

When VSMMC staff discovered she was having a breech baby, or when a baby is born bottom first instead of head first, she said she was immediately readied for caesarean section.

Anosa said at least 10 doctors at the VSMMC took turns in trying to make her undergo normal delivery.

She said the doctors panicked when the head of the baby got stuck in her cervix.

When doctors finally got the baby out, his condition was allegedly critical.

Two hours after giving birth, she heard from doctors that the baby had died.

The couple has lodged a complaint before the Department of Health (DOH) 7 against the VSMMC. (PNA) LAP/EB