Father Saturnino Urios University

COLLEGE OF LAW

LEGAL MEDICINE

Course Outline

I. LEGAL MEDICINE
A. Legal Medicine, defined
B. History of Legal Medicine in the Philippines
C. Nature of the study of Legal Medicine

II. MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE

A. Medical Jurisprudence, defined
B. Distinguished from Legal Medicine and Forensic Medicine
C. Scope
D. Hippocratic Oath

III. LAW AND THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE

A. Basis of State Regulation
1. Constitution
2. Statutes
3. Other pertinent rules, regulations, orders
4. Case:
 Board of Medicine, Dr. Raul Flores vs. Yasuyuki Ota, G.R. No. 166097, July 14, 2008
B. Reason for Regulation
C. Practice of Medicine, what constitutes
D. Requisites to the Practice of Medicine (R.A. 2382)
E. Acts constituting practice of medicine (R.A. 2382)
F. Acts not construed to be practice of medicine
1. By provisions of law (R.A. 2382)
2. By decisions of courts
G. Faith Healing
H. Limited practice without any certificate of registration (R.A. 2382)
I. Penalties for illegal practice of medicine (R.A. 2382)

IV. PHYSICIANS AND PATIENT VIS-À-VIS CONTRACT

A. Physician-Patient Relationship, commencement and termination
B. Nature of Physician-Patient Relationship
1. Consensual
2. Fiduciary
C. Cases:
 Noel Casumpang, et al vs. Nelson Cortejo, G.R. No. 171127, March 11, 2015
 Dr. Victoria L. Batiquin, et al. vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 118231, July 5, 1996
 Peter Paul Patrick Lucas, et al. vs. Dr. Prospero Ma. C. Tuaño, G.R. No. 178763,
April 21, 2009

V. LIABILITIES OF PHYSICIAN ARISING FROM WRONGFUL ACT OR OMISSION

A. Administrative Liabilities
1. Personal Disqualifications
2. Criminal Acts
3. Unprofessional Conduct

B. Civil Liabilities
1. Medical malpractice
 a. Cases:
 Loenila Garcia-Rueda vs. Wilfredo L. Pascasio, et al, G.R. No. 118141,
September 5, 1997
 Noel Casumpang, et al vs. Nelson Cortejo, G.R. No. 171127, March 11, 2015
 Dr. Rubi Li vs. Spouses Soliman, G.R. No. 165279, June 7, 2011
 Rogelio Ramos vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 124354, December 29, 1999
 Professional Services Inc. vs. Natividad and Enrique Gana, G.R. No. 126297,
January 31, 2007
 Leah Alesna Reyes, et al vs. Sisters of Mercy Hospital, G.R. No. 130547,
October 3, 2000
 Dr. Victoria L. Batiquin, et al. vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 118231, July 5,
1996
 Dr. Idol Bondoc vs. Marilou Mantala, G.R. No. 203080, November 12, 2014
 Dr. Emmanuel Jarcia Jr. and Dr. Marilou Bastan vs. People of the Philippines,
G.R. 187926, February 15, 2012

2. Doctrines applicable in medical malpractice cases

a. Doctrine of Respondeat Superior or Doctrine of Vicarious Liability or Doctrine of
Imputed Negligence

b. Doctrine of Res Ipsa Loquitor

b.1 Cases:
 Rogelio Ramos vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 124354, December 29, 1999
 Dr. Idol Bondoc vs. Marilou Mantala, G.R. No. 203080, November 12, 2014
 Dr. Fernando P. Solidum vs. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 192123,
March 10, 2014
 Carlos Borromeo vs. Family Care Hospital Inc. and Ramon S. Inso, M.D.,
G.R. No. 191018, January 25, 2016

c. Captain of the Ship Rule

c.1 Case:
 Professional Services Inc. vs. Natividad and Enrique Gana, G.R. No.
126297, January 31, 2007

d. Doctrine of Apparent Authority

d.1 Case:
 Rogelio Ramos vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 124354, December 29, 1999

e. Doctrine of Contributory Negligence

f. Borrowed Servant Doctrine

f.1 Case:
 Rogelio Nograles, et al. vs. Capitol Medical Center, et al., G.R. No. 142625,
December 19, 2006

3. What may be recovered

a. Cases:
 Rogelio Ramos vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 124354, December 29, 1999
 Dr. Ninevetch Cruz vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 122445, November 18, 1997

C. Criminal Liabilities
1. Issuance of false medical certificates
2. Abortion
3. Simulation/substitution of births
4. Failure to report treatment of physical injuries
5. Refusal to render treatment in emergency cases
6. Criminal negligence or imprudence
 7. Violation of special laws – i.e. Dangerous Drugs Act, Pharmacy Law
8. Other violation of RPC that may be committed by anyone

VI. HOSPITAL AND ITS LIABILITIES

A. Vicarious liability
1. Cases:
 Professional Services Inc. vs. Natividad and Enrique Gana, G.R. No. 126297,
January 31, 2007
 Rogelio P. Nogales vs. Capitol Medical Center, G.R. No. 142625, December 19,
2006
 Rogelio Ramos vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 124354, December 29, 1999
 Noel Casumpang, et al vs. Nelson Cortejo, G.R. No. 171127, March 11, 2015
B. Attendance to emergency or serious cases (RA 8344)
C. Transfer of patient (RA 8344)

VII. MEDICAL WITNESS; PHYSICIAN AND EVIDENCE

A. Evidence
B. Witness
1. Who may be a witness and who may not be a witness
2. Ordinary witness vs. Expert Witness
C. Physician-Patient Privilege (Rule 130, Section 24c)
1. Requisites
2. Scope of the Privilege
3. Cases:
a. Ma. Paz Fernandez Krohn vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 108854, June 14, 1994
b. Nelly Lim vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 91114, September 25, 1992
c. Josielene Lara Chan vs. Johnny T. Chan, G.R. No. 179786, July 24, 2013

D. Expert Testimony (Rule 130, Section 49)

1. Requisites for admissibility of expert evidence
2. Cases:
a. People vs. Rogelio Pelones, G.R. Nos. 86159-60, February 28, 1994
b. Dr. Ninevetch Cruz vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 122445, November 18, 1997
c. Rogelio E. Ramos, et al. vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 124354, December 29, 1999
d. Leah Alesna Reyes, et al. vs. Sisters of Mercy Hospital, et al., G.R. No. 130547,
October 3, 2000

E. Hearsay Rule
1. Grounds for Admissibility
2. Requisites for Admissibility
3. Case:
a. Ma. Paz Fernandez Krohn vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 108854, June 14, 1994

F. Dying Declaration
1. Duties of Physician with regards to Dying Declaration

VIII. INFORMED CONSENT

A. Informed Consent, defined
B. Doctrine of Informed Consent
C. Who can give informed consent
D. Case:
1. Rogelio P. Nogales vs. Capitol Medical Center, G.R. No. 142625, December 19, 2006