KALIBO, Aklan – A retired Filipino-American pediatrician will challenge doctors at the Makati Medical Center to confront the perceived problem in diagnostic errors in the country.

Dr. Leonardo Leonidas, now a resident of Lezo town in Aklan province, said he was invited by the pediatricians of Makati Medical Center to talk about how to make a happy and smart child. 

The happy smart child concept was being advocated by Leonidas all around the country with his presentation based on his findings and advocacy after practicing pediatrics for some 40 years in Bangor City in Maine, USA.

Leonidas is on a mission to make children smarter by beginning a child’s deliberate education from infancy – even before birth. Leonidas has published books such as “Baby Math,” and “How to Have a Smart Baby…Smart Child” to help guide parents and other caregivers.

"When I went home to the Philippines to supposedly advocate my concept on happy smart child, I received too many reports about diagnostic errors on the medical profession yet no one seems to take the cudgels against it," Leonidas said.

He considered the problem on medical diagnostic errors in the country as there are no government agencies or private organizations to record cases of such incidents. He added cases filed against medical doctors on suspected medical diagnostic errors are deemed confidential.

"Like in the United States, the Philippines, too, doesn't have concrete laws against medical diagnostic errors," he said.

After Makati Medical Center, he will again take up the topic at the University of the Philippines-Medicine Department.

"I already talked with UP on this fight against diagnostic medical errors in the country and I was invited by them again for follow-up," he said.*PNA