A police doctor died after he underwent “decontamination after attending to a patient” and accidentally inhaled bleach, which was used as a disinfectant in a quarantine facility where he was assigned.
Capt. Casey Gutierrez died on May 30, not from the coronavirus, but due to alleged negligence in the implementation of health and safety protocols of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
An informant said the doctor was among medical frontliners at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, which was converted into a quarantine facility for infected patients on May 24.
The source said Gutierrez was “undergoing decontamination after attending to a patient” when suddenly he had difficulty breathing.
Those who responded rushed him to the NP General Hospital at Camp Crame for initial medical treatment.
The doctor’s partner, Shella Distor, who is also a medical practitioner, said she became worried after a police officer called her and said Guiterrez would be intubated.
When Distor arrived at the hospital, she saw her partner in obvious pain and lying on a stretcher. She then initiated to transfer him to the Lung Center of the Philippines for treatment but died five days later.
Also read: DOH fails to distribute compensation for ‘COVID-19 heroes’
Police doctor dies after being sprayed with bleach
Initial findings revealed the doctor died of a massive pulmonary embolism, apparently caused by the inhalation of a toxic substance.
According to another source, Gutierrez fell ill after he was sprayed with bleach of sodium hypochlorite.
The source also said spraying bleach, especially if not diluted, would be dangerous to anyone who would inhale it because of a high level of toxicity.
“You should not directly spray that chemical on a person,” the source said, adding a person could still inhale the chemical even if he is wearing personal protective equipment.
Distor said she does not want to talk about the “accident,” but she chose to speak out after learning that two more police officers experienced the same problem just two days after Gutierrez’s death.
“Ayaw na sana namin magsalita pero nangyari ulit sa ibang tao (I did not want to talk, but this happened again to other people),” Distor said.
She said she only wants the Philippine National Police to improve its protocols to ensure the safety of the PNP’s frontliners.
The two PNP medical officer became sick after undergoing decontamination at around 3 p.m. at PhilSports Arena on June 1.