By Tedler D. Depaynos, MD
An old friend suddenly called up and invited me for a cup of Starbuck’s coffee. He is a retired high government executive who is trying to live very simply because he missed this lifestyle. Actually he is now fond of wearing an old cap not only in trying to cover his balding head but in an attempt not to be recognized. As he started sipping his strong black coffee, he began relating his recent hospital experience.
While they were visiting his wife’s relatives in the Ilocos, one of the daughter of a niece which they call “apo” suddenly had convulsions. It was late at night when together with his wife and niece arrived at the Emergency Room of a distant hospital bringing their “apo” for consultation and possible admission. Since they came from a faraway barangay, it took them more than an hour partly because of the heavy traffic along the highway even at that hour due to the long holidays.
The 4 years old “apo” had been having fever since that morning but it was just after supper that she had a series of convulsions. Hence, it was only that time when they thought of rushing the little girl to the hospital.
The child was seen by a Resident Physician and was apparently examined well. Inflammation of the tonsils was found to be the cause of the fever and consequently the high fever causing the convulsions. Since it was “simple tonsillitis”, they were advised to bring home the child with prescribed medications.
Because they were not at ease going home at that late hour, they requested that the child be admitted even for the night only. Besides they were afraid of another episode of convulsions. His wife can never forget a past experience when she once helped a neighbor rush a child to a hospital one night more than a decade ago, only to be told that they could bring home the child. At home, the child expired. Despite the native rites done during the burial and the long murmuring prayers of an elderly, she was still afraid. She does not like a repeat of that experience especially to the daughter of her niece.
Perhaps, because of their appearance especially at that hour together with the patient, the Resident Physician advised them that the hospital is a private one and very expensive and if for a night only, the PhilHealth privilege is not applicable. According to our friend, the Resident Physician even raised her voice when his wife insisted.
It was fortunate that our friend suddenly remembered a colleague who has a daughter working as a nurse in the hospital who vouched for them and called an MD whom they requested to be the attending physician. Because of her intercession, the child was admitted.
His wife appreciated very much how the Resident Physician examined the patient, but what she could not take which made her shed uncontrollable tears was how they were allegedly “looked down on because of obvious poverty”. She was concerned of those who really cannot afford but need to be admitted.
I had to explain to our friend that the Resident Physician may have had good intensions but probably because of tension and weariness after dealing with a lot of patients the whole day long she just forgot her manners. He however argued that good manners must be part of their training and they should never look down on patients whom they are treating. He regretted using the dilapidated Honda of their niece. They should have used his gleaming Volvo.
It was on the 3rd day that the fever subsided and their “apo” was consequently discharged.
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