HISTORY

Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) did not have a clinical toxicology service until 1996 when Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go came to join the hospital as an active medical staff. He had just arrived from University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in late 1994 following his doctoral fellowship in clinical pharmacology and toxicology.

SERVICE DESCRIPTION

Toxicology is the science and discipline of the study of poisons and clinical toxicology is the medical application of this science to prevent and treat poisoning. Cases typically seen include accidental poisoning, mostly among children, intentional suicide attempts with overdose of pharmaceutical products or chemical compounds, recreational substances abuse like alcohol and methamphetamine or narcotics, occupational and environmental exposures leading to toxicology. Metal poisoning is another area of concern by the service.

The consultations of toxicology moreover include adverse drug reactions, drug – drug interactions, usual and unexpected outcomes from using unknown products, and difficult critical care cases where many drugs are concomitantly used. It has also experience in dealing with medication errors for the protection of hospital staff and patients.

In many cases, clinical toxicology interfaces with the emergency medical services, psychiatry services, the analytical laboratory services and external substance abuse rehabilitation centers. It cooperates with industry to ensure that people who work in a chemical environment are protected and cared for. It cooperates with government to ensure that certain products are made safer for use. It cooperates with international organizations for signaling unusual events where drugs and chemicals might be involved.

The vision of toxicology service is to be able to provide assistance to patients and other medical services within the hospital through prompt health care or advice, and education about prevention and first aid to stakeholders. To operationally this, the service provides monthly continuing education to our residents through grand rounds, case presentation and management and lectures on poisoning.

OPERATING SCHEDULE

The service includes:

Toxicology consultants on call twenty-four (24) hours a day and seven (7) days a week

Contact numbers

Direct line         : 523 -9406

Trunk line          : 524 -3011

Local                 : 5360

DOCTORS SPECIALTY

Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, M.D, MD (UK), FPCP, FPSECP, FPSCOT

Dr. Carissa Dioquino, M.D - Neurologist and Toxicology