The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) is also cooperating with the authorities in connection with the ongoing investigation into the death of a 13-year-old boy in Quezon who allegedly lost blood after being circumcised.
On Tuesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said it is not uncommon for someone to die due to circumcision.
“Unang-una, this is not a usual thing that happens. Ito pong nagkakaroon ng mga ganitong insidente kapag nagkakaroon tayo nitong mga operation tuli or these medical missions,” she said.
“Kailangan nating imbestigahang maigi ito. Ito ay iniimbestigahan na sa ngayon at ang ating regional office din ng DOH nakikipag-ugnayan na sa ating local government at magkakaroon na po ng investigation regarding this matter,” she added.
Based on earlier reports, the victim’s grandfather Angelo Tolentino said his grandson was circumcised during a medical mission organized by the fraternity group Scout Royal Brotherhood in Zaballero, Lucena City.
However, the bleeding did not stop in the circumcised child, so the victim was taken to the hospital on March 21. But the young man died the next day.
The police cooperate with the Public Attorney’s Office to file a case against the person responsible for the victim’s incident.
DOH to probe teen’s death after free circumcision
PAO chief Persida Acosta also questioned the lack of medicine and first aid measures to stop the victim’s bleeding.
“Wala man lang silang baon na Tranexamic o Hemostan? At i-monitor, at obserbahan ng kahit ilang minuto man lang 10 hanggang 15 minuto itong batang ito kung maampat ang dugo? Wala man lang monitoring?” said Acosta.
Vergeire, on the other hand, advised that a licensed doctor should make sure that the circumcision is performed and that the equipment is clean.
On Monday, he expressed doubts about whether the doctor who circumcised his grandson was a real one.
“Nasa tulian pa lang at nagdudugo na siyempre kung doktor talaga ‘yon [nagtuli], magdidisisyon ‘yon na dalhin na sa ospital yung tinulian na madugo. Eh ako’y nagdu-duda don sa nagtuli baka hindi nga talaga doktor. Sinasabi lang na doktor yun eh,” said Tolentino.
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