The Aquino administration has remained firm against the idea of allowing Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to leave the country for medical treatment abroad, citing statements coming from the Philippine Medical Association and the Makati Medical Center, both claiming capability of treating the condition of the former president.
In an interview with Palace reporters, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda insisted on an independent verification on what has been referred as “dire medical condition” of Arroyo even before allowing her to seek foreign medical treatment.
“Well, No. 1, there seems to be a divergence of opinion with respect to the personal doctor, physician of Congresswoman Arroyo and the Makati Medical Center. If you recall, Dr. (Roberto) Anastacio mentioned that there is an urgent need (for her) to be treated abroad. But, later on, subsequently the Makati Medical Center issued a clarification that that particular opinion is the opinion merely of the doctor and not of Makati Medical Center. So whether it’s true that her medical condition is that as claimed by Dr. Anastacio, we will of course have to, (as) in the past, do an independent verification of her medical condition,” Lacierda was quoted as saying.
On top of requiring an independent medical assessment on Arroyo, the administration still doesn’t seem concurring on allowing the Pampanga lawmaker to leave the country amid what Lacierda claimed as a statement coming from medical authorities saying she need not spend much abroad because treatment is available here.
He also warded off the need to fly in foreign medical experts.
“Makati Medical Center, Philippine Medical Association both claimed that they have the capability to treat the condition of Mrs. Arroyo. So do we need foreign medical experts here? That is something that would have yet to be debated by the medical community. So we won’t answer that question first,”he said.
Philippine Medical Association vice president Leo Olarte had indicated there are “capable physicians” in the Philippines who can perform the surgery that may be required.
As for the claim by doctors that the medical equipment for Arroyo’s condition can be found only in the United States and Austria, deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said, that is “something that will have to be (verified) by medical experts also.”
But the House minority bloc, led by Minority Leader, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez also yesterday revealed that they are set to file a measure once the sessions resume next week, seeking the help of the House leadership and all the members of the lower chamber in behalf of Arroyo regarding her health condition.
In a telephone interview, Suarez said there is an urgency on their proposal as the health of the former president is fast deteriorating.
He, however, clarified that Mrs. Arroyo, or any of her sons, also members of the House, never asked them to intercede in their behalf.
“The resolution we intend to file is not meant to pressure the House leadership nor any members seek intercession to the courts to allow Mrs. Arroyo to travel abroad as her doctor had recommended,” said Suarez. “It is only meant to express the sense of the House to help a colleague.”
“And I would like to clarify, Mrs. Arroyo nor her sons have asked us to do this,” Suarez stressed. “We are doing this on our own initiative as her colleagues in the minority.”
Last week, Dr. Roberto Anastacio, Mrs. Arroyo’s attending physician at the Makati Medical Center, said a displaced titanium implant in Arroyo’s cervical spine had worsened the former president’s health condition as this is causing her increasing difficulty in breathing and swallowing, which the doctor said, could be fatal.
Anastacio recommended that Arroyo undergo immediate surgery by specialists used to “repetitive reconstruction.”
He, however, added such a team of experts, composed of a surgeon, neurophysiologists, biomedical engineers and medical researchers, is not available in the Philippines.
He recommended that Arroyo seek treatment either in Austria or in the United States.
“With respect to Dr. Olarte, I have no doubt when he claimed the former president could be treated here in the country,” Suarez said.
“But let’s give her the benefit of choosing whom she would seek medical treatment. She had already been operated three times here in the country last year for the same illness but instead of making a recovery, her condition only worsened,” he noted.
One of the basic issues in a patient-doctor relationship, Suarez said, is trust.
“You have to give it to the patient, who’s the doctor she trust,” he stressed. “And if I were in her shoes, I would also refuse to be operated on by the same tam of doctors who have already operated on me three times, which all turned out to be unsuccessful.”
Charlie V. Manalo