The Public Attorney’s Office has stepped into case of a 13-year old boy who reportedly died the after having circumcision in Lucena City, Laguna on March 22.
Dr. Erwin Erfe, PAO forensics chief, conducted an autopsy on the remains of Angelo Tolentino to “determine the cause of the death.”
PAO chief Persida Acosta said they were looking at the possibility of filing criminal charges, specifically reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, against organizers of the event and the doctors of the medical mission organized by the Scouts Royale Brotherhood.
“There is clear negligence,” Acosta said.
The boy’s mother, Ana, has sought the help of PAO through the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.
After undergoing the circumcision procedure, the teenager’s penis reportedly never stopped bleeding.
He was rushed to the Quezon Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed due to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
PAO also questioned the hospital for its failure to administer blood transfusion on the victim.
“The incident must serve as a lesson to those undertaking medical missions, that they must first conduct screening and look into the medical history of the patients,” Acosta said.
