Empathizing with Tulfo

I wish to comment on Kay Rivera’s lack of objectivity regarding the incident involving Ramon Tulfo that happened at Philippine General Hospital (PGH) (“Tulfo’s hospital tantrum,” 8/20/18).

Rivera wrote: “Why someone would be proud of this behavior is unimaginable. He clearly expected sympathy, maybe praise, for telling supposedly inconsiderate health workers what’s what…” Amazing how Rivera would claim that Tulfo posted the video because he expected sympathy or praise. She also alleged that Tulfo is “proud of his behavior.” Yet it is so simple. Tulfo shared the video on Facebook to show what transpired at PGH.

Rivera further alleged that Tulfo was “continuing a years-long tradition of doctor-shaming that ignores public decency, as well as laws on patient privacy and cybercrime.” What patient privacy? Tulfo was the one who brought the child-patient to PGH. Cybercrime? What nonsense is Rivera talking about?

Another ludicrous allegation: “…the number of better-equipped and better-staffed hospitals they must have ignored on the way from Navotas to PGH.”

I would have done the same thing that Tulfo did: bring the patient to PGH even if the accident happened in Navotas. Why? Because PGH is known over the past decades to have the best hospital care and the best doctors from the University of the Philippines. Besides, it only takes about 15 minutes from nearby Navotas via R10 and Bonifacio Drive to Roxas Boulevard.

PGH may not be “where resources are always lacking,” as Rivera claims. I recall reading news in late 2016 or in 2017 of the PGH director receiving P100 million from the Office of the President, and being promised  P100 million every year. So I really do not know why she claims that PGH “always lacks the resources”, unless she really knows the situation there.

I can understand where Tulfo is coming from. He may not understand the so-called “triage system designed to treat real emergencies first.” The problem may have been that it was not properly explained to him.

I am confident that Tulfo can explain his side and even apologize for what happened.

RICK B. RAMOS, [email protected]