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In a shocking turn of events, renowned photograph archivist John Tewell has accused a Las Piñas branch of the Perpetual Help Medical Center (PHMC) in the Philippines of subjecting him to a 39-day forced incarceration.
Tewell’s claims have sparked outrage and concern among netizens and raised questions about patient rights.
The expat first brought attention to his alleged ordeal on May 29 through a heartfelt Facebook post. He detailed a harrowing experience that began in 2018 when PHMC performed a major surgical operation on him in the wrong location, resulting in a refusal to pay his medical bills.
“One question; how many out there [have] gone through a 39-day forced incarceration unscathed? And then turned rounded and charged the daily room charge rate by the captors?” Tewell said in a Facebook post on June 2.
Tewell claimed that the hospital illegally held him against his will for 39 days after he was discharged by the doctors. To add insult to injury, they confiscated his passport, refusing to return it until he settled the bill for the operation.
“Can anyone help me? I do not want to leave my home the Philippines.How can I delay being deported until I have the chance to explain the illegal situation that caused it? I haven’t been able to go to Immigration without my passport,” Tewell posted on Facebook on May 29.
He added: “I refused to pay. They held me illegally against my will for 39 days after the doctors released me. Finally, they illegally took and kept my passport and released me saying when I pay the bill for operating on me, in the wrong place, they would give it back.”
Despite seeking assistance from the US Embassy, which intervened on his behalf, Tewell’s passport remained in the hospital’s possession. In his plea for help, he emphasized the urgency of resolving the situation before he would be forced to leave the Philippines, his home for the past 16 years.
The Perpetual Help Medical Center responded to Tewell’s claims on June 7, through a news story shared on social media. According to the hospital, Tewell underwent corrective procedures for a hip fracture and hernia resulting from a previous major abdominal operation. However, PHMC asserted that the initial surgery was not performed at their institution.
PHMC further explained that Tewell was advised to attend follow-up appointments as an outpatient but failed to do so. The hospital presented a notarized promissory note and a hand-written letter from Tewell, indicating his agreement to surrender his passport until his medical bills were settled. They claimed that despite notifying Tewell that he or his authorized representative could claim the documents, no one had come forward to retrieve the passport.
Tewell promptly responded to the hospital’s statement, again taking to Facebook to dispute its accuracy. He expressed his intention to halt further discussions until he obtained legal representation, emphasizing the need for an attorney familiar with Philippine immigration laws. Tewell also questioned the validity of the promissory note, arguing that it was obtained under duress.
Tewell posted the following earlier today, June 7: “Most of the response from Perpetual Help Hospital is lacking in truth. To proceed I need to stop with this until I have a good attorney representing me. Much of the hospital’s response is simply not true and it can be verified with official documents and photographs.”
He also asked his friends to recommend a PH Immigration knowledgeable lawyer “that would work for a percentage of any reward.”
News of Tewell’s distressing situation quickly spread across social media platforms, prompting an outpouring of support from concerned netizens. A tweet by user Chayeon (@chaeyeonieearts) highlighting Tewell’s experience garnered significant attention, with over 400,000 views and nearly 800 retweets.
Prominent columnist and editor-at-large Manuel L. Quezon III voiced his alarm, citing the incident as a reminder of ongoing concerns regarding patient rights.
Amid the public outcry, another Twitter user named Diwata Bea (@diwatabea) shared a personal connection to Tewell, describing him as a father figure and praising his contribution to preserving historical images of the Philippine islands.
As the story unfolds, the spotlight remains on John Tewell and the alleged mistreatment he endured at the Perpetual Help Medical Center. The pursuit of justice and the protection of patient rights are at the forefront of the public’s concern, ensuring that Tewell’s plight serves as a catalyst for change within the healthcare system.
The Daily Netizen 