Yeng Constantino called out for ‘doctor-shaming,’ but praises Siargao local gov’t for addressing husband’s accident

While Yeng Constantino has expressed her gratitude to Siargao’s local government for addressing her concerns over the diving accident of her husband Yan Asuncion, she was called out by netizens for previously exposing in Facebook the identity of the doctor who attended to their case.

Constantino’s husband figured in a cliff diving accident in Siargao this week. The singer, frustrated by the kind of medical attention afforded them despite the emergency nature of her husband’s condition, took to her YouTube vlog on July 18, then to Facebook on July 19 to point out the problems she saw in the process. Consequently, in her Facebook post, she named a doctor for “kakulangan ng malasakit” (lack of concern), who allegedly managed to swing legs while reading the manual of a freshly unboxed infrascanner.

On Saturday, though, July 20, Constantino commended Cong. Bingo Matugas via Facebook for laying out the plans of Siargao’s local government in response to emergencies.

According to Matugas, the local government has sought legislation to upgrade Siargao District Hospital in Dapa, Surigao del Norte into a Level 2 hospital. Matugas said ambulances are deployed for residents, and training for trauma patients and basic life support are conducted.

https://www.facebook.com/yengconstantinoreal/posts/2558558090870944

“Congressman Bingo Matugas salamat po sa pakikinig at nakakatuwa po na malaman ang mga plano nyo sa mga hospitals ng Siargao,” Constantino said. “Salamat din po sa puso nyo di lamang po yan para sa mga turista kundi para din po sa mga lokal ng Siargao.”

(Congressman Bingo Matugas, thank you for listening and it pleases me to know your plans for the hospitals in Siargao. Thank you also for your heart, not only for the tourists but also for the locals of Siargao).

Constantino then hoped that the training conducted by the Provincial Health Office of Siargao would improve the quality of medical personnel’s response to incidents. 

“Sana din po ay mapaigi ang training sa mga medical personnels para po sa ikakaepektibo ng serbisyo nila,” she stated. “Nakakaexcite po bumalik! Napakaganda po dyan sainyo.”

(I hope the training of the medical personnel will improve their services. I am excited to return, your place is very beautiful.)

Dismay over Constantino’s alleged ‘doctor-shaming’

But one medical student, Twitter user @cesmsantos, expressed her dismay over Constantino’s act of exposing the identity of the doctor assigned to handle Asuncion’s case. According to the student, she was with this doctor who assisted Constantino’s husband.

“I am one of the med students who were with the doctor from Gen Luna who assisted your husband when he was rushed in the hospital. We rushed a patient to Dapa and while we were there, our preceptor was called to assist with your husband’s case,” the student said.

Hello Ms. @YengPLUGGEDin.

I am one of the med students who were with the doctor from Gen Luna who assisted your husband when he was rushed in the hospital. We rushed a patient to Dapa and while we were there, our preceptor was called to assist with your husband's case. https://t.co/HFgnqYwgBB

— Ces Santos 🌸 (@cesmsantos) July 20, 2019

“May mga kakulangan man, hindi po solusyon na pahiyain niyo ang doktor, staff at ospital doon sa social media,” she added. “Hindi po nakakatulong sa morale sa doktor at staff ng hospital na nagsisilbi doon bagamat mababa ang sweldo at understaffed ang pagpapahiya ninyo sa kanila sa socmed.”

May mga kakulangan man, hindi po solusyon na pahiyain niyo ang doktor, staff at ospital doon sa social media. Hindi po nakakatulong sa morale sa doktor at staff ng hospital na nagsisilbi doon bagamat mababa ang sweldo at understaffed ang pagpapahiya ninyo sa kanila sa socmed.

— Ces Santos 🌸 (@cesmsantos) July 20, 2019

(Despite the shortcomings, it is not a solution to embarrass the doctor, staff and hospital in social media. It does not help the morale of the doctor and hospital staff to be humiliated, they who continue to serve despite the low salaries and being understaffed.)

The student also called out the musician for managing to vlog while in the x-ray room, and for not asking their permission about being included in the vlog. The student and some commenters then tagged the topic in Twitter with the hashtag “#NoToDoctorShaming.”

Another netizen, @Thejuanpablo (Juan Pablo, MD), also called out Constantino for monetizing her vlog at the expense of the doctor’s identity.

https://twitter.com/Thejuanpablo/status/1152467695327047685

But some netizens understood Constantino’s frustration, as in the case of one @j107998 who stated that the musician “has a point,” although Constantino may be coming from the “[point of view] of a privileged person who may not be aware about the limited resources of “doctors in far flung places.”

https://twitter.com/j107998/status/1152476328806866944

Condor Dwyer, boyfriend of Kelsey Merritt, experienced a similar accident in Siargao last April when he sustained a head cut which needed stitches. The son of broadcaster Karen Davila also suffered a surfing accident there in March 2018. Hannah Mallorca/JB

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