SOMERA CASE The most discussed case in the Philippines nursing history in relation to following doctors order is the

Somera Case. Miss Lorenza Somera was condemned in May 1929 in Manila to one (1) year imprisonment in connection with the death of a young girl in the Operating Room.. she was accused of homicide through reckless imprudence. The facts of the casein condensed form from the International Nursing Review published in 1930 read as follows: Several days prior to May 26, 1929 Pedro Clemente took his daughter, Anastacia Clemente, to Dr. Gregorio Favis at Manila. The latter decided to perform a tonsillectomy and instructed the father and daughter to go to St. Pauls Hospital where he would perform the operation at 7:00 a.m. on May 26, 1929. Assisting Lorenza Somera, a Head Nurse, were student nurses Valentina Andaya and Consolacion Montinola. The assistant surgeon was Dr. Bartolome. During the operation, Dr. Favis asked Dr. Bartolome for novocaine solution. Miss Montinola handed Dr. Bartolome a syringe of solution which was handed in turn to Dr. Favis who injected the same to the patient. After a few minutes, Dr. Bartolome noticed that the patient was becoming pale and acting as if dying. He called the attention of Dr. Favis to this but the latter said that it was not unusual. A third syringe of solution was injected and a few minutes later, the patient convulsed. Adrenalin was injected twice but the patient died in a few minutes. Dr. Favis asked if the novocaine was fresh. Miss Somera replied that the solution was not novocaine but 10% cocaine. In court, Miss Montinola testified she heard Dr. Favis order cocaine with adrenalin for injection and heard Miss Somera to have verified the order. The autopsy report and testimony of the Medico-legal Officer showed that the patient was suffering from status lymphaticus and that such patients were known to die even with so slight an injury as a needle-prick. Facts not brought in the trial were 1) that Miss Somera had finished her training only on May20, 1929; 2) that she had not received her registration certificate and was not an experienced graduate as stated in her prosecution; 3) that Dr. Favis had performed tonsillectomy but once previously in St. Pauls Hospital. During that time Miss Somera was not on duty at the Operating Room and that no order from Dr. Favis was given before his arrival. The two accused doctors were absolved of the crime but Lorenza Somera was condemned to suffer one year and one day imprisonment and to indemnify the heirs of Anastacia Clemente the sum of P1,000.00 with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency and to pay one-third of costs.