Shehada M.

Bondad
BSN 4

1. Make summary of the case.

Lorenza Somera is once a head nurse who was condemned in May 1929 in
Manila to one year imprisonment in connection with the death of a young girl
in the operating room. She was accused of homicide through reckless
imprudence. This, Somera’s case, is the most discussed in Philippine nursing
history in relation to following doctor’s order.

Below are the case facts in condensed from which was published in 1930 from
the International Nursing Review and it is read as follows:

Several days prior to May 26, 1929, Pedro Clemente took his daughter,
Anastacia Clemente, to Dr. Gregorio Favis at Manila. The latter decided to
perform a tonsillectomy and instructed the father and daughter to go to St.
Paul’s Hospital where he would perform the operation at 7am on May 26,
1929.

Assisting Lorenza Somera, a Head Nurse, were student nurses Valentina

Andaya and Consolacion Montinola. The assistant surgeon was Dr. Bartolome.
During the operation, Dr. Favis asked Dr. Bartholome for Novocain solution.
Ms. Montinola handed Dr. Bartolome a syringe of solution which was handed
in turn to Dr. Favis who injected the same to the patient .After a few minutes,
Dr. Bartolome noticed that the patient was becoming pale and acting as if
dying. He called the attention of Dr. Favis to this but the latter said it was not
unusual. A third syringe of solution was injected and a few minutes later, the
patient died in a few minutes. Dr. Favis asked if the Novocain was fresh. Ms.
Somera replied that the solution was not Novocain but 10% cocaine.

In court, Ms. Montinola testified she heard Dr. Favis order cocaine with
adrenalin for injection and heard Ms. Somera to have verified the order. The
autopsy report and testimony of the Medico-legal Officer showed that the
patient was suffering from status lymphaticus and that such patients were
known to die even with so slight an injury as a needle-prick.

Facts not brought in the trial were 1) that Ms. Somera. Had finished her
training only on May 20, 1929; 2) that she had not received her registration
certificate and was not an experienced graduate as states in the prosecution;
3) that Dr. Favis had performed tonsillectomy but once previously in St. Paul’s
and that no order from Dr. Favis was given before his arrival.

The two accused doctors were absolved of the crime but Lorenza Somera was
condemned to suffer one year and one day imprisonment and to indemnify
the heirs of Anastacia Clemente the sum of P1, 000.00 with subsidiary
imprisonment in case of insolvency and to pay one-third of costs.

In view of the recommendation of two of the justices of the supreme Court

who reviewed the case upon the appeal of the counsel fo the defense, the
unanimous recommendation of the Board of Pardons, and the petition of the
Philippine Nurses Association for executive clemency.

2. What was/were the negligence/malpractice done by the physician/nurse Somera.

Nurse Somera should’ve twice inspected to ensure that the medication is right.
 It is the nurse's responsibility and job to ensure that the correct medication is check
ed as one of the patients' rights.. In this situation when it comes to drug rights, the n
urse did not fulfill her obligation and she must have done wrong.

3. Was it Justifiable that the doctors were absolved while Ms. Somera was found
guilty? Explain your answer.
It is Justifiable for doctors to be abstained because Nurse
Somera should have done her job and should have been responsible
enough for getting knowledge of the medicine as pharmacology is in her nursing cur
riculum and should therefore double check as she prepares for it.

4. Give your reaction and recommendation/s if any.

We should always be mindful of every step we take in dealing with patients' lives an
d be attentive and cautious, and particularly when it comes to pharmaceuticals we n
eed to be aware of that. Just 1 error can take a person's life and take the years you'v
e spent in education to get a career, hard work, and time just for 1 error. That's why 
we must commit everything to our Role as a nurse.