MANILA- The National Bureau of Investigation started Monday the investigation on a woman's death due to childbirth complications after she was refused by hospitals, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday.
The NBI has 10 days from Monday to submit a report to the Department of Justice on the death of a 28-year old woman who gave birth in Caloocan and died after 6 hospitals refused to admit her.
"The NBI probe has begun...The directive was given last weekend," Guevarra told ABS-CBN News in a text message.
In refusing to admit the woman, the hospitals reportedly cited full capacity. One facility reportedly asked for a deposit as payment before admission.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque on Monday said Guevarra had assured him of an investigation into the incident as well as the filing of charges if necessary.
"Inassure po ako ni Secretary Menard Guevarra na iimbestigahan daw po ang kasong ito at kung kinakailangan ay sasampahan sila ng kaso sa hukuman nang mapatawaran sila ng parusa," Roque said in a virtual press briefing.
(I was assured by Secretary Menard Guevarra that will be investigated and that charges will be filed if necessary so they can be penalized.)
Roque, a lawyer, reiterated the country's Anti-Hospital Deposit Law, which bars medical facilities from demanding any deposit or any other form of advance payment as a prerequisite for administering treatment to any patient.
Violation of the law can be penalized with imprisonment and or a fine.
"Kung mapatunayan po..Ikukulong po natin lahat ng mga doktor, lahat ng may-ari ng ospital na naging dahilan kung bakit namatay ang pasyenteng ito," Roque said.
(If this will be proven. We will jail all the doctors and hospital owners that became the reason why this patient died.)
The husband of the woman who died due to childbirth complications said he is considering charges against the 6 hospitals that refused to admit his wife.