2 Doctors, nurse suspended for the Cebu Surgery Scandal

Two doctors and a nurse were placed under preventive suspension Wednesday for their roles in a controversial surgery at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu last January.


Radio dzBB reported that the Department of Health (DOH) Central Visayas regional office barred the three from reporting for duty while their case is being investigated.


DOH regional director Susan Madarieta identified those who were placed under preventive suspension as:


• Dr. Philips Leo Arias;


• Dr. Max Joseph Montecillo; and

• nurse Carmiña Sapio.


The three are among members of the medical team facing administrative charges for a surgical procedure involving the removal of a canister from a patient's anus.


A video taken of the surgery which showed the surgery team cheering as the canister was being removed from the patient was posted on the video-sharing site YouTube, prompting the patient to press complaints against the medical team.


The incident has also prompted the DOH to conduct an investigation on the case and tighten hospital procedures in the operating room.


Last April 16, the DoH identified the three doctors and two nurses involved in the January operation, including:


• Dr. Philips Leo Arias, head surgeon;

• Dr. Angelo Alinawagan, assisting surgeon;

• Dr. Max Joseph Montecillo, surgeon at an adjacent operating room;

• nursing attendant Rosemarie Villareal; and

• circulating nurse Carmiña Sapio.


Later, the DOH identified four others who were involved in the incident, namely:


• Dr. Marlowe Parreño, VSMMC consultant;


• Isabelita Remulta, senior operating room nurse supervisor;

• Consuelo Tecling, senior operating room nurse; and

• Ida Sumayang, senior operating room nurse on call.