Cebu

Garcia family seeks probe of hospital where their 2 brothers died

Ryan Macasero

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Garcia family seeks probe of hospital where their 2 brothers died

Tonee Despojo/Sugbo News/Cebu Provincial Information Office

The Garcias want to know what led to the deaths of their brothers Nelson and Marlon. The hospital says its decisions in the case of the two Garcias are 'consistent' with globally-accepted and clinically established procedures.

Governor Gwen Garcia and her brother Pablo John Garcia, Cebu’s 3rd District Representative in Congress, said they were seeking a probe into the circumstances that led to the deaths of their two brothers less than a week apart in a hospital in this city.

Former Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia died first on September 1, while Marlon, who was mayor of Barili town, perished on September 6. 

Both were admitted for COVID-19. In their press briefing Thursday though, the governor and congressman did not name the hospital.

Pablo John told reporters that Marlon and Nelson had already tested negative for coronavirus by the 3rd week of August.

Pablo John, a deputy speaker in Congress, is the youngest son of the patriarch of the Garcia dynasty, Pablo Sr and the late Esperanza Fiel.

Pablo John himself also tested positive, but only experienced mild symptoms of the coronavirus disease.

Though no hospital was named in the media briefing, the Cebu CFI Community Cooperative founded and managed by the Garcias said Thursday, it was terminating the accreditation of Chong Hua hospital and the two doctors who took care of the deceased brothers.

Cebu CFI Community Cooperative, which has a health insurance program, said it was removing the hospital: “as a result of serious and very disturbing complaints of our deceased members, the hospital practices, medical protocols, and procedures of Cebu Chong Hua Hospital and some of its doctors are presently under review and investigation.”

The cooperative also named the doctors whom they revoked HMO accreditations.

On September 1, Nelson died of cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to probable massive pulmonary embolism.

Five days later, Marlon died of septic shock secondary to catheter-related blood stream infection and pneumonia.

Pablo John associated the infection with the ventilator used.

However, no medical expert nor reports connect the death of the Garcia brothers with the use of ventilators.

“It’s very clear, especially with the case of Mayor Marlon, that the sepsis was caused by catheter and pneumonia induced by the ventilator,” said Pablo John, who is a lawyer, not a doctor. He was convinced it was not COVID-19 which caused deaths of his brothers.

Ventilators are recommended for those who already have difficulty breathing. 

According to a report published by the World Health Organization, however, symptoms and complications may linger on even after one is recovered from COVID-19.

The report said further, “COVID-19 can result in prolonged illness and persistent symptoms, even in young adults and persons with no underlying medical conditions who were not hospitalized.”

Among those complications are:

  • Heart damage and failure;
  • Lung damage and failure;
  • Loss of sense of smell;
  • Pulmonary embolism; 
  • Heart attack;
  • Stroke; and
  • Cognitive impairment. 

The WHO report also mentioned lasting effects on mental health such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep disturbance as well as longterm muscle pain and fatigue. 

Pablo John noted that he was able to recover at home using “DOH-recommended medicines.”

The Garcias also highlighted that Marlon’s hospital bills ended up to P5.2 million, while Nelson’s was P3 million.

When asked if they would sue, the Garcias only said they would not rule it out. 

“If their deaths are to have any meaning, then let’s ask the questions so that the lessons we’ll learn from these questions may perhaps save other people’s lives. We cannot bring back our brothers to life, but perhaps we can save others from dying,” Pablo John said.

Chong Hua responds

Chong Hua hospital posted on Friday, September 18, its response to the Garcias after their hospital and doctors were named in social media posts.

“The team of medical experts in our hospital provides only the best possible care for its patients,” Chong Hua said in a statement. 

They defended the doctors who took care of the Garcia brothers. “Their actions are consistent with globally-accepted and clinically established procedures applicable to the patients’ diagnosis.

In particular, the two attending physicians of the Garcia brothers were reputable and outstanding doctors, and are specialists in their field.

Chong Hua said: “It is a sad reality that even the most determined effort to save lives often ends up futile. Having served our community for over 100 years, the countless doctors and medical staff who worked in our hospital have undoubtedly felt frustration, discouragement, or even pain because of this certainty.”

Chong Hua Hospital has one of the largest COVID-19 wards among the city’s private hospital with 120 beds.

The hospital did not respond to the specific issues raised by the Garcias.

They also asked the public that despite the fact that medicine doesn’t save everyone, that they don’t “stop trying” or “lose faith” in science and medicine. “Ultimately, no act stands as noble as preserving or saving lives, and this must be firmly grounded on facts and research.” – Rappler.com

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Nobuhiko Matsunaka

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Ryan Macasero

Ryan covers social welfare for Rappler. He started at Rappler as social media producer in 2013, and later took on various roles for the company: editor for the #BalikBayan section, correspondent in Cebu, and general assignments reporter in the Visayas region. He graduated from California State University, East Bay, with a degree in international studies and a minor in political science. Outside of work, Ryan performs spoken word poetry and loves attending local music gigs. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmacasero or drop him leads for stories at ryan.macasero@rappler.com