Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 167366
efforts to save the life of Raymond. It was just unfortunate that the
loss of his life was not prevented.
In the case of Dr. Cruz v. CA, it was held that "[d]octors are
protected by a special law. They are not guarantors of care. They
do not even warrant a good result. They are not insurers against
mishaps or unusual consequences. Furthermore, they are not
liable for honest mistake of judgment"23
This Court affirms the ruling of the CA that the BRMC is not an
indispensible party. The core issue as agreed upon by the parties
and stated in the pre-trial order is whether petitioners were
negligent in the performance of their duties. It pertains to
acts/omissions of petitioners for which they could be held liable.
The cause of action against petitioners may be prosecuted fully
and the determination of their liability may be arrived at without
impleading the hospital where they are employed. As such, the
BRMC cannot be considered an indispensible party without whom
no final determination can be had of an action.24
IN THE LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING, the instant Petition for
Review on Certiorari is hereby GRANTED. The Court of Appeals
decision dated 21 February 2005 in CA-G.R. CV No. 65800 is
hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. No costs.
SO ORDERED.
JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Associate Justice
Chairperson
ARTURO D. BRION
Associate Justice
ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE
Associate Justice
ATTESTATION
I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been
reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the
writer of the opinion of the Court's Division.
ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Associate Justice
Chairperson
CERTIFICATION
Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, and the
Division Chairperson's Attestation, it is hereby certified that the
conclusions in the above Decision were reached in consultation
before the case was assigned to the writer of' the opinion of the
Court's Division.
MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO
Chief Justice
Footnotes
*
Id. at 271-285.
Id. at 285.
10
11
Id. at 332.
15
16
Id at 21.
17
18
19
20
21
Id. at 31-32.
22