Legal Medicine Course Outline

Arellano University School of Law

1st semester 2018-2019
ATTY. RODEL V. CAPULE, RMT, MD, FPCEM, FPCP

A. Introduction
Mandatory subject in law school (Rules of Court 138 sec. 5)
Definitions/Concept: Medical Jurisprudence
Forensic Medicine
Legal Medicine

Cases: 1. Carillo v. People of the Philippines G.R. No. 86890, January 21, 1994
2. Batiquin v. CA G.R. No. 118231, July 5, 1996
3. Garcia-Rueda v. Pascasio G.R. No. 118141, September 5, 1997
4. Cruz v. CA G.R. No. 122445, November 18, 1997
5. Ramos v. CA G.R. No. 124354, December 29, 1999
5. Ramos v. CA (MR) G.R. No. 124354, April 11, 2002
6. Reyes v. Sisters of Mercy Hospital G.R. No. 130547, October 3, 2000
7. Ruñez Jr. v. Dr. Jurado, A.M. No. 2005-08-SC, December 9, 2005
8. Nogales v. Capitol Medical Center, G.R. No. 142625, December 19, 2006
9. PSI v. Agana G.R. No. 126297, January 31, 2007
9. PSI v. Agana G.R. No. 126297, Feb. 11, 2008
9. PSI v. Agana (MR) G.R. No. 126297, February 2, 2010
10. Cantre v. Sps. Go G.R. No. 160889, April 27, 2007
11. Ilao-Oreta v. Sps. Ronquillo, G.R. No. 172406, October 11, 2007
12. Sps. Flores v. Sps. Pineda, et. al., G.R. No. 158996, November 2008
13. Lasam v. Sps. Ramolete, G.R. No. 159132, December 18, 2008
14. Peter Paul Lucas, et. al. v. Dr. Tuaño, G.R. No. 178763, April 21, 2009
15. Sps. Bontilao v. Dr. Gerona, G.R. No. 176675 September 15, 2010
16. Dr. Li v. Sps. Soliman, G.R. No. 165279, June 07, 2011
17. Atienza v. Board of Medicine, G.R. No. 177407, February 9, 2011
18. Dr. Jarcia and Bastan v. PP, G.R. No. 187926, February 15, 2012
19. Mendoza v. Casumpang, G.R. No. 197987, March 19, 2012
20. Dr. Aquino v. Calayag, G.R. No. 158461, August 22, 2012
21. Dr. Cereno and Dr. Zafe v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 167366, September 26, 2012
22. Dr. Lumantas v. Calapiz, G.R. No. 163753, January 15, 2014
23. Solidum v. PP, G.R. No. 192123, March 10, 2014
24. Dr. Cabugao v. PP, G.R. No. 163879, July 30, 2014
25. Dela Torre v. Dr. Imbuido, et. al., G.R. No. 192973, September 29, 2014
26. Dr. Bondoc v. Mantala, G.R. No. 203080 Nov. 12, 2014
27. Casumpang, et al. v. Cortejo, G.R. No. 171127, March 11, 2015
28. Dr. Cruz v. Dr. Agas, Jr., G.R. No. 204095, June 15, 2015
29. Rosit v. D. D. H & Dr. Gestuvo, G.R. No. 210445, Dec. 07, 2015
30. Borromeo v. Family Care Hospital, G.R. No. 191018, Jan. 25, 2016
31. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital v. Sps. Capanzana, G.R. No. 189218, March 22, 2017

B. State Regulation of Hospital Operation

Definition: Licensure / Accreditation / Certification

Hospital operation: RA 4226 Hospital Regulation and Licensing Act
EO 292 title IX sec. 3, 14, 15 Revised Administrative Code
RA 9439 An Act Prohibiting the Detention Of Patients in Hospitals and Clinics
RA 8344, as amended (RA 10932) Prohibiting Demand of Deposits
RA 6615 Refusal to Extend Medical Assistance

Case: Manila Doctors Hospital v. Chua and Ty G.R. No. 150355, July 31, 2006

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C. State Regulation of Practice of Medicine

Practice of medicine: RA 2382 Medical Act of 1959 as amended

RA 8981 PRC Modernization Act
RA 6511 An Act to Standardized the Examination and Registration Fees
PD 541 Allowing Former Filipino Nationals to Practice in the Philippines
Constitution Art. 12 par. 14

Cases: Marquez v. Board of Medical Examiners G.R. No. L-24119 August 8, 1925
PMA v. Board of Medical Examiners GR L-25135 September 21, 1968
Tablarin v. Guitierez GR 78164 July 31, 1987
Board of Medical Education vs. Alfonso GR No. 88259 August 10, 1989
DECS v. San Diego GR 89572 December 21, 1989
PRC v. De Guzman et. al. GR 144681 June 21, 2004
Board of Medicine v. Y. Ota GR no. 166097 July 14, 2008

D. RPC/Special Laws applicable to Physicians

RPC Article 174: False medical certificates

RPC Article 259: Abortion Practiced by a Physician
RPC Article 347: Simulation of Births
RPC Article 365: Quasi-delict Case: Villareal v. PP, G.R. No. 151258, February 01, 2012
RPC Article 353, 358: Libel & Slander Case: People vs. Chavez OG 8886 vol. 53 no. 24
RA 9165: Dangerous Drug Act
RA 10918: (Section 34) Philippine Pharmacy Act
PD 169 as amended: Reporting of Physical Injuries
PD 603: Child and Youth Welfare Act
RA 6675: Generic Act
RA 8504: AIDS Prevention and Control Act
Act 3753: Issuance of Birth and Death Certificate
Act 3573: Law on Reporting of Communicable Disease
RA 7170: Organ Donation Act of 1991
RA 7885: Act to Advance Corneal Transplantation

Case : Dr. Alano v. Magud-Lugmao, G.R. No. 175540 April 7, 2014

PD 651 as amended by PD 766: Requiring the Registration of Births and Deaths in the Philippines

Cases: Baldos v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 170645 July 09, 2010
Silverio v. Republic, G.R. No. 174689, October 22, 2007
Republic v. Cagandahan, G.R. No. 166676, September 12, 2008

E. Nature of Medical Practice

Effect of certificate of registration Case: Hurley v. Eddingfield, 59 NE 1058 (Ind. 1901)
Duty of physicians to treat patients
Duty of hospitals to treat and admit patients
Doctrine of reasonable reliance
Good Samaritan act
Contract between patient and physician
Contract between hospital and physician
Independent contractor
Contract between patient and hospital
Patient-Physician confidentiality/privilege communication

Cases: Krohn v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 108854, June 14, 1994

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 Lim v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 91114, September 25, 1992
Chan v. Chan, G.R. No. 179786, July 24, 2013
Revised Rules of Court 128 section 24(c)

Patient-litigant waiver
General consent
Informed consent vs. assumption of risk

Case: Dr. Li v. Sps. Soliman, G.R. No. 165279, June 07, 2011

F. Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice
Illegal practice of Medicine
Elements of Medical Negligence
Standard of care – locality rule, modified locality rule, national standard
Customary care
Case: Helling v. Carey, et. al., 519 P.2d 981 (1974)
Reasonable care
Cause-in-fact - “but for “test v. “substantial factor” test
Legal cause (proximate cause)

Case: Urbano v. IAC GR 72964 January 7, 1988

Phoenix Construction v. IAC G.R. No. L-65295 March 10, 1987
Lyons v. Midnight Sun Transportation 928 P.2d 1202 (1996)
Perkins v. Texas and New Orleans Railroad Co. 147 So.2d 646 (1962)
Elements of reckless Imprudence/simple imprudence
Degree of diligence required
Applicable laws
Defenses in medical malpractice, see RRC 130 section 27
Prescription
Cases:
Sps. Santos v. Pizardo, G.R. No. 151452 July 29, 2000
Casupanan v. Laroya, G.R. No. 145391 August 26, 2002
Article 1146 NCC
Discovery rule/continuous treatment rule
Liability of hospitals: vicarious and direct liabilities

Cases: Ramos v. CA G.R. No. 124354, December 29, 1999

Ramos v. CA G.R. No. 124354, April 11, 2002
Nogales v. Capitol Medical Center G.R. No. 142625, December 19, 2006
PSI v. Agana G.R. No. 126297, January 31, 2007
PSI v. Agana G.R. No. 126297, February 2, 2010
HMSI-MCM v. HMSI-MCM EA-AFW, G.R. No. 176287 Jan. 31, 2011

Res ipsa loquitor/common knowledge

Contemporaneous negligence
Borrowed servant doctrine
Captain of the ship doctrine

G. Expert Witness

Who can be an expert witness

Net Opinion Rule

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 Hypothetical questions
Direct examination/Cross examination
Use of learned treatise, books and journals

H. Medical Negligence Cases Discussion (01-10 Supreme Court cases, supra)

I. Medical Negligence Cases Discussion (11-20 Supreme Court cases, supra)

J. Medical Negligence Cases Discussion (21-29 Supreme Court cases, supra)

K. Physical Injuries (Revised Penal Code Art. 262-266)

Cases: People v. Buling GR L-13315 April 27, 1960

People v. Yorac GR L-29270 November 23, 1971
People v. Adil and Fama Jr. GR L-41863 April 22, 1977
Enrile and Enrile v. Hon. Judge Manalastas, et. al., G.R. No. 166414, October 22, 2014
PP v. Mapalo, G.R. No. 172608, February 06, 2007
Jun Mupas and Gil Mupas v. PP, G.R. No. 172834, February 06, 2008
Aguirre v. Secretary of the Department of Justice, G.R. no. 170723, March 3, 2008
Engr. Pentecostes v. PP, G.R. No. 167766, April 07, 2010
PP v. Hon. Ocaya, G.R. No. L-47448, May 17, 1978
Physical Injuries and Child Abuse: Bongalon v. PP, G.R. No. 169533, March 20, 2013
PD 603 Art. 59(8)

L. Medical Certificate/Medical Records as evidence

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Final grade: 30% class standing (attendance) + 30% midterm exam + 40% final exam
Failure due to absences: absent 4 times
Dress code: no wearing of shorts or sleeveless clothes
No use of any electronic gadgets or laptop during class