Violation of Privacy

We were so outraged, medical and non-medical personnel alike, when the infamous scene from Desperate Housewives aired undermining Filipino medical doctors. We were so mad, particularly Filipino doctors and even other medical professionals about this incident. A lot of doctors and medical organizations were interviewed trying to voice out their utmost disgust at the fave US TV series.

This incident made a huge impact on those people applying for a job in the medical field. Not only doctors were affected but even nurses too. Our dean mentioned to us in one of our meetings that after that fiasco, hospitals from Europe and even the middle east are now verifying the authenticity of the school records of the nursing applicants. Before, the verifications were just from the US hospitals. *sigh*

Now, another fiasco has emerged damaging again the good reputation of our medical professionals. I am talking about the incident that happened in the OR of the Vicente Sotto Hospital in Cebu. I've seen the video in youtube and I was shocked while viewing it.

As a student nurse, we were taught on moral standards. Besides the safety and recovery of our patients, we should duly respect the privacy and confidentiality of our patients' condition. For me, what happened in the Vicente Sotto Hospital is a complete violation of the patient's privacy. You can hear from the people in the video (though some were spoken in I think Cebuano) their snide and very unprofessional remarks. It was really rude of them to say those things while the patient was sedated. The patient was at their mercy hoping to have a little dignity despite this unusual circumstance. Yet, his doctors and nurses have failed him. What's worse is that from what I've heard, these medical professionals will only be suspended and not get their licenses revoked. They may have helped the patient with his "condition" but what they did to him is far more worse than not getting any kind of medical assistance.

I wonder what our foreign guests would feel and think of when they are in our hospitals? I can only think of one word -- DISGUST! Major and big time TSK TSK TSK moment.

See for yourself. The video is still up in youtube. Just search for the name of the hospital that I've mentioned.