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TO AVOID any “premature conclusions,” Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama said he wants the council to review a draft resolution that will provide free legal aid to a couple who accused a private hospital doctor of neglect in the death of their son.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo who proposed the resolution wants the city legal office to provide legal aid to Jose and Jean Gulfan.
But Carillo's resolution needs to be reviewed because “it's as if we've already concluded guilt,” said Rama during the Feb. 6 council session.
The Gulfan couple sought Carillo's help last month before filing a criminal case before the City Prosecutor's Office against a resident doctor at the Sacred Heart Hospital.
The couple accused the doctor of neglect which resulted to the death of their 7-year-old Stanley.
In their joint affidavit, the couple said Stanley was first brought to the hospital on Dec. 10, 2007 after he complained of abdominal pains, frequent vomiting and skin rashes.
Stanley died of dengue hemorrhagic shock at 4:45 am on Dec. 13.
The Gulfans said the doctor failed to diagnose properly their son's condition.
Carillo's draft resolution said his office found “sufficient proof that the respondent doctor and hospital have criminal liabilities over the death of Stanley.”
But Rama said it is best to discuss the proposed measure on Wednesday.
He said the Department of Health is also looking into the case. Reporter Doris C. Bongcac
