> A quack
dentist
So, a mere dental aide employed with the Municipal Government of
Milaor, Camarines Sur, who has been dangerously performing the job
of a duly licensed dentist has been finally handcuffed by the
operatives of the CIDG, after having been caught in flagrante
delicto victimizing persons in dire need of dental care.
Actually, I met Ms. Maria Soledad Lamtecson Pado, the quack
dentist, a few months ago, right at my law office- residence. She
came along with my niece, who almost died due to severe infection
brought about by the illegal practice of dentistry by the former.
When I met the lady “dentist,” she never showed any qualm of
introducing herself as a real dentist. She even told me that it
will just take her a few months to stay in the Philippines as she
was to work in a hospital abroad. She wanted to settle her civil
liability for the damages she has caused my niece.
Thinking that she indeed was a duly licensed dentist, I advised my
niece to be more accommodating to her because incidents of this
kind really sometimes happen. Anyway, I told my niece, her dentist
appeared contrite of her wrongful act. My niece took my advice.
She and the “dentist” came up with a verbal agreement to settle
their differences amicably.
I thought everything went fine, in the sense that indeed this lady
dentist made good her undertaking. It was not so. My niece later
on told me that Ms. Lamtecson-Pado took not only a hard but even
provocative stance, to the extent of hurling a challenge that she
be brought to court, instead. She continued performing the job of
a professional dentist at Milaor and as a natural consequence had
more victims. It seems her actuation was somewhat emboldened by
some supporting words from Edgardo Felizmenio—Milaor’s mayor.
Alarmed by the information, I called the attention of the
municipal health officer of Milaor—Dra. Llaguno, about the illegal
practice and she confirmed to me that such anomaly had been going
on for sometime because there is no regular dentist in that town.
Pressed for explanation, she said that dentists under the payroll
of the provincial government have been boycotting Milaor from the
time she called their attention of their practice that
notwithstanding the fact that they were collecting TEV’s from the
provincial government, they were still charging the patients
availing of their dental services at the rate of about Php 500.00/
patient. Upon further verification, it has turned out that indeed
dentists from the Provincial Health Office of Camarines Sur have
been duly authorized to collect from patients at least Php50 each
to cover the cost of anesthesia.
Apparently slighted by the Municipal Health Officer’s observation,
the dentists ceased visiting Milaor. This is the situation which
the fake lady dentist took advantage of. Purposely, with the go
signal of the town mayor, she provided services as a dentist, left
and right, until such time that she started to believe that she is
indeed a real dentist, particularly when her patients were also
addressing her as such.
Then the inevitable came. Patients after patients suffered from
serious infections to such an extent that had it not been for the
timely medical intervention by real dentists, they could have
succumbed to death. My niece was one of such victims. One of the
ranking officers of the Philippine Dental Association Camarines
Sur Chapter, treated her and the cost was running by the
thousands. PDA Camarines Sur which got wind of the anomalous and
risky adventure of the fake lady “dentist” advised my niece to
file the necessary criminal complaint against the former.
My niece sought the help of the NBI. Until now however this
sleuthing appears to be going nowhere. Meantime, the CIDG, acting
on the complaint of another victim, was quicker to the draw and
caught the “dentist” in flagrante delicto. Her case must now be in
court.
The illegal practice of this woman should not be taken lightly by
the authorities because what is at stake are the people’s lives
and limbs. Moreover, it is indicative of a very disturbing
governmental attitude on dental care. Dentists in government
service do not seem to get their rightful pay, that is why while
they are receiving TEV’s, they are still charging their patients
who are supposed to get free dental services. Note that there are
even organizations providing medical and dental missions. How come
that this malpractice has been allowed to go on for sometime?
This also brings to the fore the similar sad plight which
government doctors, nurses, midwives and others engaged in
providing health care are suffering from. If all those in the
health care sector of the government do not receive appropriate
pay and benefits, their exodus would go unabated. The more that
health care will be in peril.
What makes the situation more abominable is the perceived
indifference of the elective local officials. In fact,
notwithstanding the fact that the issue about the Milaor
experience has long been exposed, nobody seemed to bother, even at
the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Camarines Sur. Too busy with other
concerns more important than the people’s health?
Come to think of it. Not one of the members of Camarines Sur’s
legislature is a doctor or a dentist!
