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Hernel Tocmo

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17564575522071756457547758.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>Janko Ferlič, Unsplash<div> </div><div> </div>A family in Davao City expressed dismay over what happened to their newborn boy, who was initially declared dead at a hospital but showed signs of life after being brought home, only to die again. The baby was born premature at a private hospital in Calinan District before being referred and brought to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). The child died on August 23 and was brought home in Brgy. Gumalang, Baguio District. A family member blamed the handling of the baby in the hospital for the child&#x27;s death.  &quot;We’re not generalizing all the doctors, nurses, or midwives in the hospital. What disappointed us was the one who assisted the baby at that time. They seemed to show no concern,&quot; the family member said in the local dialect.(Wala namo generalize tanang doctor diha, nurse o midwifery or sa ospital. Wala man mi nakuan, ang amo kuan gyud katong nag-assist ana nga time ba sa bata, ingon ana siya ka kuan, ing-ana siya ka walay pagpakabana.)The family member said the baby was placed in a box when he was sent home. But upon opening the box, they found that the child was still alive. The baby was again brought to SPMC, where he was incubated for two days before dying on Monday, August 25.Dr. Ricardo Audan, medical center chief of SPMC, offered two theories on why the baby came back to life. He said the child could have had a rare case of Lazarus syndrome or the spontaneous return of normal circulation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has failed and been stopped. Another possible explanation could be tied to the box in which the baby was brought home, he said. &quot;It could be that the box served as an incubator or thermo regulator for the temperature. Remember, when we received the baby, it was already cold even though we had wrapped it. Second, maybe during the travel, since the roads were not even, there was some movement and the box acted as a thermo regulator, which might have helped the baby breathe again,&quot; he said in the local dialect.(It could be katong karton nag-serve as incubator murag nag termo regulator sa temperature, kay remember, pagdawat, tugnaw man gani even gibalot namo to siya. So second and baka during the travel, dili stable ang roads, medyo nag-move siguro then nagtermo regulator ang karton, medyo nibalik ang ginhawa.)Audan told Newsline Philippines this was the first time such an incident has occurred at SPMC. He added that they were ready to meet with the baby’s family to discuss the incident.Audan also addressed the family&#x27;s concerns that the baby was not properly cleaned and still had traces of blood on his skin when he was sent home the first time. He said that they had cleaned the baby. But he explained why they could not clean more thoroughly.&quot;We cannot go further in cleaning because the skin of a preterm baby is very fragile and sensitive. We were actually able to clean the baby, but we could not remove something because it might cause a wound,&quot; he said.(We cannot go further nga i-limpyo kay very fagile ang skin, very sensitive ang skin for a preterm baby. So actually, nalimpyohan nato siya dili lang namo makuha ang… kay basig masamad.)

A family in Davao City expressed dismay over what happened to their newborn boy, who was initially declared dead at a hospital but showed signs of life after being brought home, only to die again.

A family in Davao City expressed dismay over what happened to their newborn boy, who was initially declared dead at a hospital but showed signs of life after being brought home, only to die again.

‘Lazarus syndrome?’: Newborn in Davao declared dead, comes back to life, then dies again

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‘Lazarus syndrome?’: Newborn in Davao declared dead, comes back to life, then dies again

Hernel Tocmo

Published Aug 29, 2025 04:58 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 29, 2025 06:26 PM PHT

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Davao City

Baby

Lazarus syndrome

Southern Philippines Medical Center

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