PAO files complaint vs Duque, Garin, 40 others for doctor’s death

The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) wants Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former Health Secretary Janette Garin and other health and pharmaceutical officials to answer for the death of a physician who was inoculated with the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia by the government.

Kendrick Gotoc, 39, was the 31st alleged victim of the mass immunization program, according to the latest PAO complaint in the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The PAO asked the DOJ to file an additional case against Duque, Garin and some 40 others for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, torture, and violation of consumer rights for Gotoc’s death.

Gotoc died in April last year after getting three doses of Dengvaxia. The PAO said he had not contacted dengue before he received the vaccine.

Multiple organ failure

The doctor reportedly died of multiple organ failure and hemorrhage and from neurotropic-like disease and viscerotropic-like disease secondary to Dengvaxia vaccination, according to the PAO.

It said Department of Health officials, Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur and the vaccine’s Philippine distributor Zuellig Pharma “deliberately failed to inform the Dengvaxia recipients and their parents/ families of the dangers and risks related to Dengvaxia and did not obtain their informed consent.” —DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN