The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of criminal charges against two physicians of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital over injuries sustained by a Caesarean section patient five years ago.

In a resolution, it said that enough evidence was found to indict Dr. Ma. Cristina Gonzales and Dr. Rodolfo Avelino for Reckless Imprudence Resulting to Serious Physical Injuries (Art. 365 in relation to par. 4 of Art. 263 of the Revised Penal Code).

The case stemmed from the complaint of Anabel Abao-Genabe, who underwent a Caesarean section on November 27, 2005 at the Calapan City-based government hospital. Gonzales was her attending physician/OB-Gyne while Avelino, a surgeon, allegedly assisted during the operation.

Abao-Genabe alleged that her intestine was cut during the procedure which resulted in a “3-4 centimeter iatrogenic injury to the small bowel, extensive adhesion of the bowel and to the uterus.”

The Office of the Ombudsman, citing records, said that her skin turned yellowish, her body swelled, she had rectal bleeding, bowel came out from her abdominal wounds and she suffered evisceration caused by the operation.

And even as she was not yet fully recovered, Abao-Genabe was discharged from the public hospital.

On December 5, 2005, Abao-Genabe was brought back to the provincial hospital. But she said no one was attending to her and she just requested to be transferred to the Sta. Maria Village Clinic.

The private clinic however lacked the equipment for the needed procedure. Abao-Genabe was then brought by her family to the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital in Manila where she underwent another surgery on December 8, 2005.

“Had respondents been very careful and diligent in performing the Caesarean operation, taking into consideration their employment and occupation, degree of intelligence, physical condition and other circumstances regarding persons, time and place, complainant would not have experienced the pain she underwent and suffered severe complications,” the resolution stated.

In January, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Dr. Idol Bondoc from the same provincial hospital for “wrongful behavior” and “failing to attend” to Marilou Rala Mantala, who was giving birth, resulting in the death of the woman’s baby.