Corporate Law Case Digest:Professional Services, Inc v. CA (2010)

G.R. No. 126297               February 2, 2010
Lessons Applicable: Liability for Torts (Corporate Law)

FACTS:

  • Enrique Agana told his wife Natividad Agana to go look for their neighbor, Dr. Ampil, a surgeon staff member of Medical City, a prominent and known hospital 
  • Natividad suffered from injury due to 2 gauges left inside her body so they sued Professional Inc. (PSI)
  • Despite, the report of 2 missing gauzes after the operation PSI did NOT initiate an investigation
ISSUE: W/N PSI should be liable for tort.

HELD: YES. 15M + 12% int. until full satisfaction.
  • While PSI had no power to control the means/method by which Dr. Ampil conducted the surgery on Natividad, they had the power to review or cause the review
  • PSI had the duty to tread on as captain of the ship for the purpose of ensuing the safety of the patients availing themselves of its services and facilities
  • PSI defined its standards of corporate conduct:
    1. Even after her operation to ensure her safety as a patient
    2. NOT limited to record the 2 missing gauzes
    3. Extended to determining Dr. Ampils role in it, bringing the matter to his attention and correcting his negligence 

  • Admission bars itself from arguing that its corp. resp. is NOT yet in existence at the time Natividad underwent treatment
  • Dr. Ampil - medial negligence
  • PSI - Corporate Negligence
  • NOTE: 
    • Liability unique to this case because of implied agency and admitted corporate duty
    • 26 years already and Dr. Ampil's status could no longer be ascertained