Medical technologist John Paul Solano said on Tuesday that University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horatio “Atio” del Castillo did not die from injuries inflicted during a fraternity initiation rite but succumbed to a pre-existing heart condition.
Solano cited the medico-legal report on the death of Del Castillo that the latter had what’s called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, described in layman’s terms as a thickening of the heart muscle that may impede the flow of blood out of the heart.
He believed that, based on his medical technology study, Atio could have died of cardiac arrest due to complications of that pre-existing condition.
Solano’s pronouncement was refuted by Del Castillo’s family, who soundly knocked his credibility to speak on the subject. Horatio del Castillo, Jr., Atio’s father, said: “He [Solano] is not a doctor. He is a medical technologist. Get a cardiologist to explain!”
