PRC, Dole to probe doctor over alleged malpractices that resulted in deaths

MANILA, Philippines — The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Wednesday committed to investigate a plastic surgeon and his clinic.

This comes after Sen. Raffy Tulfo raised alleged malpractice cases involving reported deaths of patients.

During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing for the 2027 spending plan of DOLE and its attached agencies, Tulfo questioned PRC officials over the agency’s handling of complaints against the doctor.

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Tulfo cited a 2017 case involving a patient who allegedly died after undergoing multiple procedures at once, and another recent case involving a patient who reportedly suffered the same fate.

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He questioned why the PRC had not yet taken action despite the earlier case.

PRC Chairperson Charito Zamora explained that the 2017 case was filed before the Board of Medicine in 2021 and remains at the board level.

“2017. It’s 2026 now. For nine years, even if it was done motu proprio (of one’s own accord), it was only by you yourselves,” Tuflo said.

“If I were the one doing it motu proprio, I’d say, ‘Wait a minute. Something’s wrong with this. Let’s do something about this,’” he told Zamora.

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Zamora said the agency will investigate the recent case.

She said she will gather information and will direct the Board of Medicine to investigate the case.

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Unsatisfied with the answer, Tulfo pressed PRC to take preventive action such as issuing a cease and desist order or preventive suspension.

He believes another patient can potentially be harmed if the doctor will continue to perform procedures.

“We shouldn’t wait for a third person to die,” the senator told the PRC official.

Tulfo urged the PRC to study how such an order could be issued “ASAP (as soon as possible),” saying he did not want another patient to become a victim while the case was pending.

For his part, Dole Acting Secretary Francis Tolentino said he will constitute a fact-finding team to look into the allegations.

“Tomorrow, we’ll form a team,” Tolentino said.

He also cited a previous instance during the administration of former Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz when a fact-finding investigation involving the PRC was conducted.

Tolentino also said Dole can immediately inspect the clinic and submit a report to the Senate committee.

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“If found to be in violation of Article 128 of the Labor Code, we will shut it down ourselves,” Tolentino told Tulfo. /apl