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ROGELIO NOGALES vs. CAPITOL MEDICAL CENTER et al. G.R. No.

142625,
December 19, 2006

FACTS: Pregnant with her fourth child, Corazon Nogales ("Corazon"), who was then 37
years old, was under the exclusive prenatal care of Dr. Oscar Estrada ("Dr. Estrada")
beginning on her fourth month of pregnancy or as early as December 1975. Around midnight
of 25 May 1976, Corazon started to experience mild labor pains prompting Corazon and
Rogelio Nogales ("Spouses Nogales") to see Dr. Estrada at his home. After examining
Corazon, Dr. Estrada advised her immediate admission to the Capitol Medical Center
("CMC"). t 6:13 a.m., Corazon started to experience convulsionsAt 6:22 a.m., Dr. Estrada,
assisted by Dr. Villaflor, applied low forceps to extract Corazon's baby. In the process, a 1.0 x
2.5 cm. piece of cervical tISSUE: was allegedly torn.At 6:27 a.m., Corazon began to manifest
moderate vaginal bleeding which rapidly became profuse. Corazon died at 9:15 a.m. The
cause of death was "hemorrhage, post partum. 

ISSUE: Whether or not CMC is vicariously liable for the negligence of Dr. Estrada. 

RULING: Private hospitals, hire, fire and exercise real control over their attending and
visiting "consultant" staff. The basis for holding an employer solidarily responsible for the
negligence of its employee is found in Article 2180 of the Civil Code which considers a
person accountable not only for his own acts but also for those of others based on the former's
responsibility under a relationship of patria potestas. 

In general, a hospital is not liable for the negligence of an independent contractor-physician.


There is, however, an exception to this principle. The hospital may be liable if the physician is
the "ostensible" agent of the hospital. This exception is also known as the "doctrine of
apparent authority”. 

For a hospital to be liable under the doctrine of apparent authority, a plaintiff must show that:
(1) the hospital, or its agent, acted in a manner that would lead a reasonable person to
conclude that the individual who was alleged to be negligent was an employee or agent of the
hospital; (2) where the acts of the agent create the appearance of authority, the plaintiff must
also prove that the hospital had knowledge of and acquiesced in them; and (3) the plaintiff
acted in reliance upon the conduct of the hospital or its agent, consistent with ordinary care
and prudence. In the instant case, CMC impliedly held out Dr. Estrada as a member of its
medical staff. Through CMC's acts, CMC clothed Dr. Estrada with apparent authority thereby
leading the Spouses Nogales to believe that Dr. Estrada was an employee or agent of CMC.

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