- former pediatric resident of Makati Medical Center, Makati City, Philippines
- is having or (had?) fellowship in Philippine Heart Center (?) --- still researching about his whereabouts until now
- (looks like) a gay doctor (please don't get me wrong. i absolutely have nothing against gays (or members of the third sex). this is just all about Dr. Kim Martin Tolentino... he may not be gay after all, for all we know.
A few years back, in Makati Medical Center, I came across Dr. Kim Tolentino in the Pediatric ICU. My child was confined due to a very sensitive condition and Dr. Tolentino was a pediatric resident at that time. I had very high expectations about the said hospital. However, it all changed because of the way we, particularly my son, had been treated especially by Dr. Kim Tolentino.
I remembered addressing to him a very important concern about my child's condition and he acted so arrogant. He was rude, conceited, inconsiderate and he lacked compassion. He looked down on me, ON US, and I felt belittled. With arms crossed on his front, slouched on a chair and looking at me like I was dirt, he explained to me "erroneously" and carelessly my child's condition. Being in the medical field as well, I completely understood what was happening and I knew he was just too lazy to attend to my child and do what I was requesting from him. Probably because we weren't as rich as the other patients.
He neglected my child and just disregarded and completely ignored my concern. Every time I think about this incident, it breaks my heart. I can never, ever recover from the feeling of hurt and pity over our situation and having to deal with a doctor (pediatric resident) who lacks compassion for my sick child who was only a few months old back then.
Being a mom, I was deeply hurt and traumatized by this experience. I tried to complain but the head nurse of MMC-Pediatric ICU named Annie also ignored my complaint probably thinking that we were just "little" powerless people. At that time, all I wanted was for my child to get well so that we can just get out of the hospital. The stress was just too overwhelming not to mention the 6-digit hospital bill that was still piling up. Dr. Kim Tolentino ignored us. Nurse Annie of MMC-Pediatric ICU also ignored us. There was nothing left for me to do but to hope and pray for my son's recovery and accept that we were unimportant to them.
Fast forward to present, I decided to write about this experience on this blog site because I am having a hard time recovering and I still cannot forget what Dr. Kim Tolentino did to us especially to my dear child. To him, we were nothing but poor patients. I still remember how differently he acted towards other patients especially to a young boy who happened to be the son of an Orthopedic Surgeon. In Makati Medical Center Pediatric ICU (at that time), patients were in the same room and the beds were adjacent to each other. There were also beds on the opposite side. This is the reason why I see how doctors treat each patient.
For me, DR. KIM TOLENTINO is one of my worst nightmares. A doctor who will never develop compassion and genuine concern for patients. I can never believe that he will still change - in fact, nobody can ever convince me that he will develop concern and love for others. He belittled me and my child. Why? Because we're not rich? Because my child has a special case?
I hope this blog can help me forgive and forget this doctor. I had finally let it out. Years had passed but I can never ever forget the way he looked at me and my child. Time heals all wounds as they say. This is a start.
DR. KIM TOLENTINO. A pediatrician with fellowship in cardiology. I hope that our paths will cross again because I want to start forgiving you.
