THE Philippine College of Physicians-Central Visayas chapter (PCP-CV) renewed its support and expression of solidarity to its two colleagues who have been indicted for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide by reposting its official statement dated September 2020 on its official Facebook page on Saturday, May 8, 2021.
"The same statements would still hold true even to this day. We stand in solidarity with our colleagues and all frontliners. Our enemy is Covid-19," the PCP-CV said.
The colleagues the group is referring to are Chong Hua Hospital Doctors Elfleda Hermandez, an infectious disease specialist, and Yvonne Bettina Montejo, a pulmonologist who handled and provided medical care to the late Barili Mayor Marlon Garcia before he died on September 6, 2020.
"The organization recognizes the competence of our two esteemed members in their field of expertise and we give them our high respect and unconditional support. They have continuously shown professionalism and integrity in the medical field," reads a portion of its official statement.
The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor, in a 34-page resolution, recommended the filing of charges in court against them.
This stemmed from the complaint filed by Jima Tiano-Garcia, the wife of the late Mayor Garcia who accused the two doctors of medical negligence under Title XIV of the Revised Penal Code and Other Related Penal Legislations.
Assistant City Prosecutor Verna Merelos, who wrote the resolution, said the doctors' defenses of denial, adherence to the best standard of care of the patient and the limitations set by the family on the treatment of the late mayor are "all evidentiary in nature and should be ventilated in a full-blown trial."
She also said the opinion of Dr. Ravi Venkata Durvasula on the existence of questionable standards of care is "sufficient to establish the element of breach of duty."
Cebu City Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas approved the resolution upon the recommendation of Deputy City Prosecutor Maria Luisa Ratilla. (WBS)