Repercussions from
the canister case

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The surgery scandal in Cebu City may have more damaging effects, not only on the reputation and privacy of the patient, the doctors and nurses involved, and even on the hospital where it took place. What has not been considered yet are the repercussions it will have on the medical profession in our country, as well as on our tourism industry.

The cause of all this was the operation a few days ago performed on a man described as a “gay florist” from that city who had to go through an operation to remove a canister inserted in his rectum, allegedly during a session with a sex partner. Since his body could not reject the foreign object by natural means, he had to undergo surgery to relieve himself of it.

What the patient did not know was that the surgeons did not only have fun at his expense, they also allowed several spectators to witness the procedure. Furthermore, someone in the group took video footages of the operation which gave them so much amusement they hooted, laughed and cheered as it went on. But the worst was when one of them introduced the videotape to the you-tube to be seen by anyone with access to it.

The incident drew indignant and disgusted reactions from both medical practitioners and private individuals who denounced the medical staff for their lack of ethics and professionalism. Now charges are being filed and it is possible that those who are guilty will get their just desserts.

But what is most alarming are the effects of this incident, not only on the reputation of our medical practitioners, many of whom are working abroad, or hoping to do so. Will they not encounter doubt and suspicion from their future employers and patients? As for our tourism industry, it is well known that we have been promoting lately what we call a “medical tourism” program to attract foreign visitors. Will potential patients who hear about this, still be able to trust our doctors and nurses, even our hospitals, if there is a doubt that their privacy will not be respected?

Officials and investigators should look into these angles when they work on this case.*