A Filipino doctor’s heartfelt social media post about a patient suffering from tetanus has gone viral, garnering over 3,000 shares and igniting public concern over preventable deaths and the cost of healthcare in the Philippines.
Dr. Jonnie Lee “Con-con” Laroza Ladot, an infectious disease specialist, posted a photo of a small bamboo splinter inside a specimen container, with the chilling caption:
“This small bamboo wood will soon take my patient’s life. It wasn’t the size of the injury — it was TETANUS.”
According to her post, the patient—an adult male—suffered a seemingly minor puncture wound to the second digit of his finger. However, because he had not received a tetanus vaccination, the bacteria Clostridium tetani entered his body and produced a powerful toxin that caused severe symptoms — including neck stiffness and trismus, commonly known as “lockjaw.”
“This is my 4th case of tetanus in my private practice and will soon be my first mortality in tetanus,” Dr. Ladot lamented.
Tetanus, often underestimated, is caused by a neurotoxin that attacks the nervous system, leading to muscle rigidity, spasms, and respiratory failure. Once symptoms appear, treatment becomes extremely difficult and the fatality rate remains high even with intensive care.
Dr. Ladot emphasized that tetanus is 100% preventable with proper vaccination and wound care.
“Even small wounds can kill,” she wrote. “Get vaccinated. Complete the primary series and get a booster every 10 years. Clean all wounds properly.”
But what added to the tragedy was what happened next. Despite the worsening condition, the patient’s family chose to discharge him due to financial constraints.
“The saddest part was, my patient’s relatives opted to discharge the patient due to financial reasons,” she revealed. “It boils down to our healthcare system which is inadequate to support the financial needs of our patients.”
Her post ended with a poignant plea:
“Kailan pa kaya magkaroon ng quality healthcare ang mga Pinoy without thinking the financial aspect? Really breaks my heart.”
