Dr. Lo who? PAO says he’s a Dengvaxia client

Dr. Raymundo Lo testifies at the House of Representatives on Dengvaxia. PHOTO/Path Roxas, INQUIRER.net

The head of the Public Attorneys’ Office’s (PAO) Forensic Laboratory said that the pathologist who claimed PAO gave “false conclusion” linking deaths to Dengvaxia was actually involved in purchasing the controversial vaccine.

READ: PAO gave ‘false conclusion’ linking Dengvaxia to deaths – pathologist

Dr. Erwin Erfe, Director of PAO Forensic Laboratory, added that Dr. Raymundo Lo gave his opinion without examining the body of the victim and only based his opinion on clinical records.

“Dr. (Lo) did not [examine] the body of the victim, did not see the histopathology slides, did not take the clinical history from the parents, and yet (Dr. Lo) came up with an opinion,” Erfe said.

“It is also notable that (Dr. Lo) is one of those involved in the purchase of Dengvaxia as Assistant Executive Director of PCMC (Philippine Children’s Medical Center),” he added.

Erfe clarified that the reports of the forensic team were based not only from clinical records but also from clinical history, forensic examination of the body and histopathology slides.

Lo, a medical doctor who served as PCMC deputy executive director for professional services, disputed the autopsy findings of PAO’s forensic team which linked the deaths of some patients to the controversial anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine.

Lo testified before the House committees on good government and public accountability and health which were investigating the Dengvaxia controversy.

However, Erfe said that the opinion of Lo “was excluded” by the Department of Justice Prosecution Panel which handles the Dengvaxia case.

“(We) have 12 doctors in the PAO Team including two pathologists from UE and Ospital ng Maynila,” he added.

Dr. Lo’s testimony

Lo testified on Wednesday before the House committees on good government and public accountability and health which were investigating the Dengvaxia controversy.

He said some of PAO’s autopsy findings were “not supported by factual data.”

“To submit such a false conclusion and disseminate to the general public as a valid medical finding is not only reckless but a blatant violation of our oath as medical practitioners to do no harm,” said Lo, who said he had training in the US and the Philippines.

In his presentation, Lo claimed that some of PAO’s findings were not supported by factual data, including their conclusion that there were “hemorrhage in the heart” of some vaccinees.

He explained, “blood is normally present in these heart spaces.”

The pathologist also noted that “there are many gross findings that may have different causes and should not be assigned to one disease process.” He said congestion, swelling, hemorrhage, and edema are all “nonspecific findings which cannot be assigned to one disease.”

A microscopic examination of the organs is also needed to determine causation, according to Lo. With a report from Pathricia Roxas/ac