Introduction
The medical certificate reproduced photographically below, transcribed and translated, is signed by Dr. Mario Daniel and Dr. Maria Lucia Martinez.
As evidenced by the heading of the document placed below, we are dealing with a preprinted form of the insurance company Grancolombiana de Vida S.A. It was filled out for patients holding a “hospital and surgical policy” issued by Grancolombiana de Vida S.A. In it, the physician certified all and only the surgical procedures or medical treatments covered by the insurance policy, in order to allow the insured to claim reimbursement for the expenses incurred.
According to the logic underlying the document, there is no specific mention in it of the condition of the ovaries, the charred organs, the breast, and the lesions at the entry and exit points of the lightning strike (see here), since only a generic attention was paid to them, generically encompassed by the expressions “multisystemic deterioration,” “lavage, debridement,” and “burned areas.”
Transcription of the Spanish original
Side A
FECHA DE ELABORACIÓN
A 95 | M Mayo | D 20
CERTIFICO QUE ATENDÍ A:
Gloria Costanza Polo Ortiz
EDAD
36 a(ños)
FECHA EN QUE CONSULTO POR PRIMERA VEZ AL SUSCRITO
5 mayo 95
LOS PRIMEROS SÍNTOMAS DE LA ENFERMEDAD FUERON:
Quemaduras x Electricidad (Rayo), Tráuma sistémico
FECHA EN QUE PARECIERON
5 Mayo 95
LA HOSPITALIZACION SE ORDENÓ EN: (nombre entidad hospitalaria)
Clínica san Pedro Claver
FECHA DE INGRESO
5 Mayo 95
DIAGNÓSTICO CLÍNICO
Quemaduras Eléctricas (Rayo)
DE ORIGEN
Traumático.
SE PRACTICÓ TRATAMIENTO
Quirúrgico, Médico
NOMBRE DE LA INTERVERCIÓN O DEL TRATAMIENTO:
lavado, desbridamiento, fasciatomias MMII (miembros inferiores), suporte ventilatorio, UCI (unidád de cuidado intensivo)
CLASE DE ANESTISIA
Gral
DESCRIPCION DE LA INTERVENCIÓN QUIRÚRGICA O TRATAMIENTO MÉDICO (Solicitamos utilizar el respaldo de este certificado y consignar el resumen de la Historia Clinica)
Paciente que sufriò politraumatismo y quemaduras x electricidad (rayo) el dia del ingreso se iniciò reanimacion, lavado, desbridamiento. Se evidencia diminucion en la presion de… [continua nel Lato B]
ATENDIDO EN:
I.S.S. (Instituto de Seguro Social)
PARA QUE SE LE GIRE DIRECTAMENTE EL VALOR DE LOS HONORARIOS MEDICOS PACTADOS SIEMPRE E CUANDO SEAN OBJETO DE COPERTURA
FIRMA DEL MEDICO
Mario Daniels 38596
Side B
RESUMEN HISTORIA CLINICA (continuacion)
los miembros inferiores el 6 may 95 por lo qual se practica nuevo lavado y fasciotomia de MMII por parte del servicio de ortopedia. Presenta deterioro multististémico con diminucion del gasto urinario y falta vintilatoria por lo cual se remite para manejo de UCI a la clínica ASSISTIR, en donde se logra manejár la falta ventilatoria. Regresa a la clínica san Pedro el 9 mayo 95; se continua con manejo médico y curacion de sus areas quemadas y de las fasciotomias.
Reaciona satisfactoriamente con epitelización de las quemaduras y de las fasciotomias. Persiste lesion hepatica y lesion muscular y nervosa de MMII, las cuales deben evaluarse periodicamente. El 25 mayo 95 es dada de alta por C Plastica, continuando a cargo del servicio de rehabilitación en donde se encuentra hospitalizada actualmente .
Junio 8 de 1995 – CLÍNICA SAN PEDRO CLAVER – REHABILITACIÓN
La paciente presenta como secuela de sus quemaduras eléctricas (rayo) lesione parcial del nervio ciático en forma bilateral con mayor compromiso del nervio ciático poplíteo externo (bilateral). Se encuentra en tratamiento intensivo de terapia física; requerirá ortesis cortas bilaterales para la marcha. Se dió incapacidad hasta el 5 de Julio de 1995 y las siguientes incapacidades dependerán de su evolución.
DRA Maria Lucia Martinez.
Reg med 10.189 – D.E.
English translation
Side A
DATE OF ISSUE
Year 95, Month May, Day 20
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I ATTENDED:
Gloria Costanza Polo Ortiz
AGE
36 years old
DATE OF FIRST CONSULTATION WITH THE UNDERSIGNED
May 5, 1995
THE FIRST SYMPTOMS OF THE ILLNESS WERE:
Electrical burns (lightning), systemic trauma
DATE OF ONSET
May 5, 1995
HOSPITALIZATION WAS ORDERED AT: (name of hospital facility)
Clínica San Pedro Claver
DATE OF ADMISSION
May 5, 1995
CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
Electrical burns (lightning)
OF ORIGIN:
Traumatic.
TREATMENT WAS PERFORMED
Surgical, Medical
NAME OF PROCEDURE OR TREATMENT:
Lavage, debridement, fasciotomies of lower limbs, ventilatory support, ICU (Intensive Care Unit)
TYPE OF ANESTHESIA
General
DESCRIPTION OF SURGICAL PROCEDURES OR MEDICAL TREATMENTS (please use the back of this certificate and record the summary of the medical history)
Patient who suffered polytrauma and electrical burns (lightning); on the day of admission, resuscitation, lavage, and debridement were initiated. A decrease in the pressure of the… is evident
TREATED AT:
I.S.S. (Social Security Institute)
SO THAT THE VALUE OF THE AGREED MEDICAL FEES MAY BE PAID DIRECTLY PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE SUBJECT TO COVERAGE
PHYSICIAN’S SIGNATURE
Mario Daniels 38596
Side B
MEDICAL HISTORY SUMMARY (continuation)
lower limbs on May 6, 1995, therefore a new lavage and fasciotomy of the lower limbs was performed by the orthopedics service. She presents multisystemic deterioration with decreased urinary output and ventilatory failure, therefore she is referred for ICU management to the ASSISTIR clinic, where the ventilatory failure is successfully managed. She returns to the Clínica San Pedro on May 9, 1995; medical management and treatment of her burned areas and fasciotomies continue.
She responds satisfactorily with epithelialization of the burns and fasciotomies. Hepatic lesion and muscular and nerve lesion of the lower limbs persist, which must be evaluated periodically. On May 25, 1995 she is discharged by PLASTIC SURGERY, continuing under the care of the rehabilitation service where she is currently hospitalized.
June 8, 1995 – Clínica San Pedro Claver – REHABILITATION
As a sequela of her electrical burns (lightning), the patient presents partial lesion of the sciatic nerve bilaterally with greater involvement of the external popliteal sciatic nerve (bilateral). She is undergoing intensive physical therapy treatment; she will require bilateral short orthoses for walking. Disability was granted until July 5, 1995 and subsequent disabilities will depend on her progress.
Dr. Maria Lucia Martinez
Med. Reg. 10.189 – D.E.
Studies
Ebook
We recommend reading the chapter “What value does the published medical documentation of Gloria have” of the eBook by Flaviano Patrizi, Facciamo vera chiarezza sul Caso Gloria Polo.
Video reportage
“Electrizada (II),” reportage by Carol Delgado for the program Esta es la historia, hosted by Manuel Teodoro Bermúdez, Canal Uno, Colombia, 2000. This is the first reportage to document Gloria Polo’s lightning strike and her account, just five years after the events. At the time, forty-one-year-old Gloria had given birth about three years earlier to María José, the miracle daughter, born on September 3, 1997.
The reportage also features an interview with surgeon Mario Daniel, an authoritative witness of two miracles:
- the revitalization of Gloria’s legs, after their amputation had been scheduled;
- the recovery of the reproductive function of Gloria’s ovaries.