5/28/2020
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Romero-Dacanay (Dr. Dacanay), whose medical report[6] dated April 13, 2007 stated:
Rule Out Rheumatoid Arthritis
To Consider Pleural Base Mass, Right
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in remission
Cushingnoid features secondary to Prednisone intake.[7]
After a series of medical management procedures,[8] Dr. Dacanay opined in a medical
report[9] dated June 22, 2007, that Jarin’s rheumatoid arthritis was not work-related
because it is “an auto-immune disease in which joints, usually those of hands and feet,
are symmetrically affected, resulting in swelling, pain and often eventual destruction of
the joints interior.” Jarin’s cushingnoid features was also declared as not work-related
since it is “secondary to prednisone intake as medical management for his rheumatoid
arthritis.”
In the same report, Dr. Dacanay noted that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is
almost always the result of cigarette smoking to which Jarin admitted to have been
engaged in since he was in high school with a daily consumption rate of 10 sticks.
Jarin’s pulmonary status was declared stable and his still persisting joint pains was
assessed with interim disability grading of Grade 11 (disturbance of the normal carrying
angle or weakness of arm or forearm due to deformity or moderate atrophy of
muscles).
On July 24, 2007, Dr. Dacanay’s evaluation[10] cleared Jarin of his pulmonary ailment
although he still complained of joint pains. Jarin was advised to continue his
medications and to undergo remicade infusion. He was due for re-evaluation on July
31, 2007, in which date he was recommended for admission for his remicade infusion.
[11] In the follow-up report[12] dated August 2, 2007, Jarin was admitted in the MMC.
The following day, Jarin was discharged from the hospital and was prescribed
medications.[13]
On August 16, 2007, Jarin underwent laboratory tests and was advised to come back
on September 17, 2007.[14] The following day,[15] Dr. Mylene Cruz-Balbon (Dr. Balbon)
issued a private and confidential evaluation stating that rheumatoid arthritis is a
chronic illness “which can become progressive that has the potential to cause joint
destruction and functional disability.”[16] Jarin was “no longer recommended for further
sea duties.”[17]
Without any knowledge of Dr. Balbon’s recommendation, Jarin received a call on
September 10, 2007 from Teekay Phils. directing him to report at Pandiman Phils., Inc.
(Pandiman) at Intramuros, Manila.
On the following day, Jarin went to Pandiman where he was informed that his illness is
not work-related and that Teekay Phils. stopped paying for his medical treatments.
Jarin asked for a medical report supporting such conclusion but he was not furnished
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