You are on page 1of 6

LEGAL MEDICINE

THE DOCTOR AS A WITNESS


Atty. Antonio D. Rebosa, M.D.
would ask as questions in a way the child
REFERENCE: would fully understand and comprehend
 Audio Recording of Atty. Tony Rebosa’s lecture on and would not be … And would come up
Sept. 9, 2017  with honest, accurate and truthful
 Pedro Solis (1987). Legal Medicine. Quezon City: R. P. Garcia narration. That is the ideal.
Publishing Co.  Is a child capable of lying? The common
perception is that children don’t lie. But I’m
Part of the Exam would be on the chapter that is common to telling you now, children do lie. I’ve already
both Legal Medicine and Medical Jurisprudence – The encountered, 2 witnesses although they
Doctor as a Witness. were ages 8 and 10. They were
pathological liars; they belong to a family
HOW DOES THE LAW DEFINE A “WITNESS”? of criminals. But they were so good with
 In Legal Med, we said Legal Med is Forensic Medicine. their testimony that I’m sure that the judge
The doctor goes to testify as a witness in court. would have been persuaded with their
 Witness: A person who by proceeding can make known testimony. The only way I can discredit
his perception to others. that, by presenting an expert witness in the
 When we talk about perception, it refers to the five person of a child psychiatrist who would
senses. say that – Yes, children do lie, they can be
What is wrong with that definition? Para sa akin there is coached.
something redundant, is there a need to really put the  Just like that mother, kalong kalong niya
word ‘person’ there? What the law makers were yung anak niya. How sure are we that the
thinking, by the use of the word “person’ – only those child is not being coached?
from planet earth can testify. Extraterrestrial beings and  In clinical cases, the evidence required
aliens if ever they will come here cannot testify. in order to convict the accused is guilt
beyond reasonable doubt. What does
 Even the WHO defines the Doctor / Physician, starts
that mean? If you compare it sa grade, the
with the word ‘a person who knows how to treat people’
passing score is 90. Ang taas nun, you get
so hindi din pwedeng manggamot ang galing sa ibang
a score of 89. That’s very high but there’s
planeta. Martian cannot testify or practice medicine.
11% doubt. These are basic constitutional
 Based on that definition there, who are disqualified to
right, that you’re entitled to presumption
be a witness?
of innocence unless proven otherwise.
o Those who cannot make known their perception to
 The burden of proof to prove that
others --
you’re guilty is always on the
1. Children of tender age
prosecution. It’s very easy to file a
 You do not expect a 2 or 3 year old boy/girl
criminal case but very difficult to win.
to testify on the witness stand,
WHY? Because of your presumption of
monosyllabic pa lang yan. They cannot
your innocence. You will be convicted on
understand, they cannot express
the basis of the strife of the evidence?
themselves.
Presented by the prosecution and not on
 What about a 4 year old, precautious girl
the basis of a witness of your evidence.
who says “kapag kayo wala siya lagi
You cannot be forced to testify or be a
hawak pepe ko “? Can she now go to court
witness against yourself in court. You may
and testify? Yes, she can talk. She can
not testify if you don’t want to, you may
answer; she can tell you what she had
invoke your Right against Self-
perceived. But of course, the accused is
incrimination. Also a Basic Constitutional
entitled to cross examine any witness that
Right. You need not prove that you are
would be presented against them so that 4
innocent; you only have to produce
year old girl will have to be presented in
doubts. Because doubts should always be
court.
construed in favor of the accused.
 In the Phils. how is a child witness usually
Because of the Legal dictum: It is better
presented? The child is being carried by
to set the guilty free than send an
the mom or by any person whom she is
innocent person to jail.
comfortable with.
 When there are doubts, in favor of the
 Ideally in other countries especially sa
accused. Rape is one of the most difficult
States, ideally if you’re going to subject a
crimes because usually there are no
child as a witness. She should be in
witnesses. It’s a matter of he-said she-
another room with a child psychologist.
said. The rapist does not have to prove
 First, a TV for the ward in which the
that he is innocent, he just have to
lawyers and the judge and anybody else
introduce doubts saying that the sex is
would be able to monitor and see for
consensual. How? Claiming that the
themselves the demeanor of both the child
woman consented to the sex because she
psychologist and the child. The questions
is a former girlfriend, for old times’ sake,
will be asked by the lawyers and the judge
and can prove that with love letters, text
through the child psychologists who in turn
messages, etc.

MANCI  COPYRIGHT 2017 Page 1 of 6


LEGAL MEDICINE THE DOCTOR AS A WITNESS TONY REBOSA, MD

 Let’s say you are about to be raped, Exception to the non-admissibility of HEARSAY EVIDENCE: Dying
there’s no more chance of escaping. Declaration
You’re in a dark alley and this guy is so  Sec. 31, Rule 130, Dying Declaration – The declaration of a
big. Full of tattoos and probably killed you dying person, made under a consciousness of an impending
if you don’t give in. You are now cornered. death, may be received in a criminal case wherein his death is
But before he will have sex with you, you the subject of the inquiry, as evidence of the cause and
took out a condom. Please use this surrounding circumstances of such death.
condom because either you’re scared of
 Admissible in spite of the fact that it is hearsay, it is made so
getting HIV or getting pregnant? Is that
consent? In the states, no that is rape. because of necessity and it is trustworthy.
Because there is no way for the woman to  Physicians are frequent recipients of dying declaration in the
escape rape and she just had to protect medical clinics and emergency rooms of hospitals.
herself.  To be admissible it must be shown that the –
2. Senile – those with Alzheimer’s, those who  Declarant was conscious of his impending death
have problems with memory recall although not  Declarant was in full possession of his mental faculties
absolute. when he made the declaration; and
3. Insane – Naniniwala ka sa buang, pareho  Such evidence is presented in court in a case of
kayong buang. homicide, murder or parricide wherein the Declarant was
4. Those who committed crimes of perjury – the victim.
lying under oath
TWO KINDS OF WITNESS
Sec. 18, Rule 130, Rules of Court – Witnesses: Their qualification –  A physician may be presented I court as ordinary witness
Except as provided in the next succeeding section, all persons who, and/or as an expert witness:
having organs of sense, can perceive, and perceiving, can make
known their perception to others, may be witnesses. ORDINARY EXPERT
 Neither parties nor other persons interested in the WITNESS WITNESS
outcome of the case shall be excluded; nor those who Will go to court to testify He goes to court to
have been convicted of a crime; nor any person on what he just perceived and enlighten the court, to
account of his opinion on matters of religious belief. those that are of his share his expertise in
personal knowledge. matters which he may be
Exceptions to the ordinary witness rule – considered as an expert.
1. Privilege of communication (confidential) between physician Can a blind man go to
and patient court to testify? Yes He goes to court to give
 Although the physician perceived something through his his opinion.
organ of sense and has the power to transmit to others A physician who testifies in A physician on account of his
what he perceived, he is not allowed to disclose those court on matters he training and experience can
information to others as regards to matters he perceived perceived from his patient in give his opinion on a set of
from his patient during the physician-patient the course of physician- medical facts.
relationship. patient relationship. He can deduce or infer
 Sec. 21 (c), Rule 130, Rules of Court – Privileged something, determine the
communication – A person authorized to practice cause of death, or render
opinion pertinent to the
medicine, surgery or obstetrics cannot in a civil case,
without the consent of the patient, be examined as to issue and medical in nature.
any information which he may have acquired in
Sec. 42, Rule 130, Rules of Court – Opinion Rule – General Rule –
attending such patient in a professional capacity, which
The opinion of a witness is not admissible, except as indicated in
information was necessary to enable him to act in that
the following section.
capacity, and which would blacken the character of the
o Sec 43, Rule 130, Rules of Court – Expert Evidence – The
patient.
opinion of a witness regarding a question of science, art
2. A medical witness can only testify on matters derived by his
own perception or trade, when he is skilled therein, may be received in
evidence.
 Hearsay information are as a rule not admissible in court.
o Probative value of expert medical testimony depends
o Hearsay evidences are those not proceeding from
upon –
the personal knowledge of the witness but from
 Degree of learning; and
mere repetition of what he has heard others say.
 Experience on the line of what the medical expert is
o It is“second hand” evidence which rest mainly on
testifying;
the veracity and competence of its source.
 Basis and logic of his conclusion; and
 Sec. 30, Rule 130, Rules of Court – Testimony generally
 Other evidences tending to show the veracity or
confined to personal knowledge – A witness can testify
falsity of his testimony.
only to those facts which he knows of his own
knowledge; that is, which are derived from his
 When a doctor goes to court, he is usually
perception, except as otherwise provided in this rule. presented both as an ordinary and expert witness.
He goes to court to testify his findings and also he goes
to court to give his opinion on medical and health
correspondence (?).

MANCI  COPYRIGHT 2017 Page 2 of 6


LEGAL MEDICINE THE DOCTOR AS A WITNESS TONY REBOSA, MD

 For example, Doctor Lodroňo was mauled by the wife. the testimony given by the doctor who performed
He was patient and I issued a medical certificate for him. autopsy. Kunwari ako yung witness niya –
After 3 years, I receive a subpoena to appear in court to  So Dr Rebosa here is being presented purely as an
testify as witness. I am now in court and I am being expert witness to testify on the basis of the autopsy
asked these questions – report and to give his comments on the testimony given
Did I answer as by the doctor who performed the autopsy.
Ordinary or Doctor Rebosa did you see the patient? No
Expert Witness? Doctor Rebosa, have you read the TSF on the testimony
Dr. Rebosa what were the injuries Ordinary witness; o the other doctor? Yes
sustained by Dr. Lodroňo? the question was Doctor Rebosa is it usual for doctors to leave foreign
He sustained multiple lacerations, what was your bodies like a cellphone during exploratory laparotomy?
punctured wounds, incised wounds, stab finding? Although Yes, that can happen anytime.
wounds, contusions, hematoma, I answered in Doctor Rebosa, if somebody leaves a cellphone is that
desquamation, fracture, burns, scalding medical term indicative of negligence? No, it can happen even to the
etc. best of them
So Dr Rebosa what were the procedures Ordinary witness Did I testify as ordinary/expert? Expert.
performed? I performed craniotomy,
exploratory laparotomy, splenectomy, WHEN WILL A DOCTOR GO TO COURT?
hemorrhoidectomy, circumcision, D&C  If he receives a subpoena
How long do you think is the distance Expert witness  Subpoena – an order of the court directed to a
between the victim and the assailant? particular person to appear at a specified date, time and
How long will he require medical place.
attendance? o Subpoena testificandum – subpoena for them to
What d’you think is the caliber of the gun go to court and testify.
used? o Subpoena duces tecum - For them to go to court
Which of these injuries were inflicted and read documents and the medical records or the
first? autopsy report for the stab or the bullet
Which of these injuries are important?  When a doctor receives a subpoena, the decision to go
is a subpoena testificandum and duces tecum. For the
 But sometimes the doctor is being presented merely doctor to go to court, bring the medical documents and
as an ordinary witness. He is just there to identify then testify.
something. Ex. Dr Rebosa I am showing to you a  Why go to court especially in criminal cases? Because if
metallic fragment that was allegedly extracted from the you don’t go, you will be cited for contempt.
body of the victim, you earlier testified that you extracted
the metallic fragment. Will you please go over this Testimonial Evidence: A physician may be commanded to appear
fragment and please tell us the relation of this fragment, before a court to give his testimony. While in the witness stand, he
the fragment that should be extracted from the body of is obliged to answer questions propounded by counsel and
the victim? I am being asked to identify, ordinary / presiding officer of the court. His testimony must be given orally
expert? Ordinary witness. and under oath or affirmation (p. 13).
 So what do you think is the metallic composition?
Expert witness. IN COURT ROOMS –
 But sometimes also, the doctor is being presented as  We do not conduct hearings in tagalong, everything
purely as an expert witness. The doctor doesn’t know is in English.
who the patient is. He never attended the patient, he just  All the witnesses being presented if their testimony
goes to court to testify on the basis of the medical record is given in tagalong or the vernacular, it is translated
of the -ator. He is there to give his comments on into English.
testimony given by other doctors.  In the TSF, what will appear in the Transcript of
Stenographic notes will be in English.
Example The patient dies on account of suspicion of
medical negligence. Patient undergoes autopsy, the TWO KINDS OF CONTEMPT
doctor who performed the autopsy is now in the witness 1. Direct Contempt
stand.  Inside or anywhere near the court room
Ordinary/Expert?  How can a Judge cite you for direct contempt?
Doctor what are your findings? Ordinary o Being disrespectful: eating, slouching, sleeping,
I found out that there was a chewing gum, an act of cellphone (kapag nag-
cellphone that was left in the ring ‘yan), you’re suppose to pay attention to
abdominal cavity. proceedings you cannot play games (on your
Doctors is that a usual occurrence Expert cellphone), you cannot read newspapers, you
after exploratory laparotomy? cannot read books
No that is not a usual occurrence. o Yung ibang court bawal naka-slouch or cross
Doctor if a doctor leaves a cellular Expert legs. Everybody must pay attention.
phone or a foreign body is that o And you must be decently dressed.
indicative of negligence? Yes o And you must address the lawyers with
 The doctor there was presented both as an ordinary and respect; lawyers are considered officers of the
as an expert. So yung doctor ngayon na defendant court. You have to address them as
kailangan niya mag-present ng Expert witness to rebut Sir/Ma’am. What about judges? “Your Honor”

MANCI  COPYRIGHT 2017 Page 3 of 6


LEGAL MEDICINE THE DOCTOR AS A WITNESS TONY REBOSA, MD

o The people outside are so noisy, you cannot to get medical certificates. Get doctors who will testify
hear each other and they’re interfering with the for us and besides are we forbidden to issue medical
proceedings, they can also be cited for Direct certificates for ourselves? Is there are that forbids me?
Contempt. There is none! There is nothing in the rules that we
o Penalty of a Fine of up to 200 pesos and a cannot issue medical certificates for ourselves and for
prison term of up to 10 days. There should our immediate family.
be a receipt when imposed with a fine.  What is prohibited from us is issuing medical certificate
o Lawyers when we appear in court we must for the dog of our neighbor. That is illegal practice of
wear long sleeves barong or coat and tie. We veterinary medicine. You issue medical certificate for
cannot wear short sleeves, short sleeves is humans, not animals.
only for the prosecutors’ office or only for the
SKELETAL REMAINS, BLOOD
PRC? Hindi pwedeng coat without the necktie
or long sleeves with necktie without the coat.
o Lady lawyers should wear blazer and probably, SKELETAL REMAINS
hindi pwede miniskirts, up to knee siguro.
Bawal yung plunging. Lady lawyers bawal ang If you see a skeletal remain, are you sure it’s a bone?
earrings, long hair dapat naka-ponytail. Baka naman plastic lang.
2. Indirect Contempt  
 Outside of the court Human bone Animal bone
Example 
 There was an order of the court for you to do Male or a Female?
something, you refused to do it. Determine the sex –
 There was an order of the court for you to stop  By way of the Pelvis
doing whatever it is that you are doing  cease  With radio-
and desist order but you defy the order. What is the race?
 Nakatatlong subpoena ka na to appear in court ni-  Caucasian
ho ni-ha hindi mo ininform the court you’re going.  European
So usually before you’re cited for Indirect contempt,  Malaysian
the court will send you a love letter  show cause  Chinese
order  contains - you are hereby ordered to How? Ako siguro, estimate
explain in writing within three days from receive? the height of the bones
and explain why you should not be cited for o > 6 feet, I don’t think
contempt for your failure to appear in today’s it’s FIlipino
hearing despite due notice thereby delaying the o Ave Height of Filipino:
speedy disposition of justice. Male – 5’6’;
 Hindi ka pa din sumulat, you did not even attend the Female – 5’2”
next scheduled hearing. You are now cited with
indirect contempt which carries with it a penalty of a In the Examination of Bones, the following points can be
Fine of up to 30,000 pesos and prison term of up determined approximately:
to 6 months. 1. Whether the remains are of human origin or not
2. Whether the remains belong to a single person or not
WHAT ARE THE USUAL VALID REASONS GIVEN BY 3. Height
DOCTORS WHY THEY ARE ABSENT? 4. Sex
 You have an emergency 5. Race
st
o Example, The 1 time I could not leave the hospital 6. Age
because of too many patients who are needing 7. Length of interment or length of time from date of death
medical treatment. 8. Presence or absence of ante-mortem or post-mortem bone
o Second time around your honor, I was already injuries
going to court but then I received a phone call to go 9. Congenital deformities and acquired injuries on the hard
back to the hospital. tissues causing permanent deformities.
o Third time your honor, I was already within the
premises of the court but I was called again.  Suggestive of Human Remains –
o Fourth time your honor, I was sick. a. Oval or round shape of the skull
o Fifth time your honor, I died but I was revived. b. Less prominent lower jam and nasal bone
o Sixth time I was abroad.
o So yun yung mga reason.
In determination of the Sex of the Skeleton, the following bones
 When lawyers or litigants are absent, they are usually
must be studied:
required by the court to present a medical certificate if
their reason for being absent is that because they are  Pelvis  Femur
sick. So the court would not ordinarily believe he’s sick.  Skull  Humerus
So they are supposed to present a notarized medical  Sternum
certificate.
 But how come when it’s the doctor to tell the court he
was absent because he was sick, more often than not
the court will not anymore require the doctor to submit a
medical certificate. Why? Because it’s very easy for us

MANCI  COPYRIGHT 2017 Page 4 of 6


LEGAL MEDICINE THE DOCTOR AS A WITNESS TONY REBOSA, MD

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MALE AND A FEMALE PELVIS BLOOD


MALE FEMALE
Heavier construction wall more Lighter construction wall less If you see Blood
pronounced pronounced 
Human blood Animal blood
Height greater and flays off its Height lesser and flays off its

wall more pronounced wall less pronounced
Is that of a Male or
Pubic arch narrow and less Pubic arch wider and rounder Female?
round How? Usually through
Diameter of the true pelvis less Diameter of the true pelvis hormones.
greater  Maraming estrogen  Babae
Curve of the iliac crest reaches Curve of the iliac crest is of the Maraming testosterone Lalake
a higher level lower level But that’s not truthful anymore, maraming mga lalake
Narrow greater sciatic notch Wide greater sciatic notch mataas ang estrogen. Marami namang mga babae
Body of the pubis narrow Body of the pubis wider nagtetestosterone.
Iliopectineal line sharp Iliopectineal line rounded  Even if they’re not having problems with their sexual
Obturator foramen egg-shaped Obturator foramen triangular orientation, there are some people who really have
higher testosterone level.
Sacrum short and narrow Sacrum long and wide
LEGALIMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF BLOOD
CRANIUM
MALE FEMALE 1. Paternity and maternity (for disputed parentage)
Less curve of shaft More curve of shaft  In the Philippines, maternity is not a problem. We
really know who the mother is.
Mastoid process larger Predominance of cranial roof
 In vitro fertilization or surrogate motherhood is
over cranial base Mastoid
usually done elsewhere.
process smaller
 The problem here is Paternity testing. Everybody is
Cranium placed horizontally Cranium placed horizontally a denial king.
rests on mastoid process rests on the occipital and  The test is called HLA test – Human Leukocytic
maxillary bones Antigen Test (DNA-based)
Styloid process shorter Styloid process longer and o Just like DNA, cannot be 100% accurate. It’s
slender only about 99%, in some institution – 94-97%.
Forehead higher and more Forehead less high and more o Even at 99%, there’s a 1% chance that even if
oblique vertical the blood test is positive and compatible. You
Superciliary ridges less sharp or Superciliary ridges sharper may not be the father. Why? What is the total
more rounded population of the world right now? 7 Billion. Ano
Zygomatic arches and frontal Zygomatic arches and frontal pinakamarami? Mainland China (about 1.6
sinuses more prominent sinuses less prominent Billion, if you had to count the Chinese in all
over the world, not the China town, yung
Lower jaw larger and wider Lower jaw narrower and lighter
Chinese decent. Most probably it’ll be
and chin not projecting
numbering in 3 Billion. Half of the total
population is Chinese) who’s next? Indians in
Other Differential Racial Characteristics of Skeletons: 1.2 Billion. So there are only 2 kinds of people
Caucasian Mongolian Negro in the world, either you’re Chinese or your
Skull Elongated Square Narrow and Indian.
elongated o Philippines, total population: 103 – 104 Million
Forehead Raised Inclined Small and o America, US; About 500+ Million
compressed o Even if the Paternity test is 99% accurate, may
Face Proportionately Small Malar bones and 1%. The total population of the world is 7
small jaw projecting; Billion; half of them are males (3.5Billion). 1%
teeth set obliquely of 3.5 Billion is 35 Million. So even if the test is
positive, it is possible that there could have
Upper Small Small Long in proportion
been some 35 Million other males.. But what
Extremity to body; forearm
are the odds?
large in proportion o Test is only presumptive, not conclusive. But if
to arm; hand small the blood test is negative, it is 101% sure you
Lower Normal Small Legs large in are not the father.
Extremity proportion to 2. Circumstantial or Corroborative evidence against or in favor of
thighs; feet wide the perpetrator of a crime
and flat, heel bones  “A” was found dead with a deep stab wound on the
projecting chest
backwards  “B” was found with a kitchen knife in his hand stained
with blood
 Examination of the weapon showed that the stain was
blood of human origin and belonging to the same group
as that of the deceased “A’.

MANCI  COPYRIGHT 2017 Page 5 of 6


LEGAL MEDICINE THE DOCTOR AS A WITNESS TONY REBOSA, MD

 With such result of examination, investigating authorities  Does it belong to the person in question?
have a very strong presumption that “B” was the one  The manner, degree and condition of the article which have
who committed the crime. been stained
3. Determination of the Cause of Death  Age of the stain.
 The amount of blood or blood stains found in the scene
of the crime or found inside the body of the deceased
FIN!
outside the blood vessels may imply that the cause of
death of the person is hemorrhage. UT IN OMNIBUS GLORIFICETUR DEUS !
4. Determination of the direction of escape of the victim or the
assailant Attempted vs Frustrated –
 The shape of the blood or blood stains will give the I shot Rj in the face Attempted
investigator an idea on the direction of the source of I shot him again, grazed his ear Attempted
blood. Usually in small drops, the tapering end of the I shot him in between the eyes through Frustrated
blood spot is towards the direction of the moving source and through
of blood. In the Attempted stage even if there is no medical
5. Determination of the approximate time the crime was attendance, you will surely survive. Pero through and
through and if not for timely medical intervention
committed
independent of the will of the perpetrator, he would have
 Although there are variations as to the color and soluble
surely died.
changes as to regards the age of the stain, we can only
say that when there is too much change, it is not very 2 TYPES OF CRIMES
recent. 1. Private Crimes
6. Determination of the place of commission of the crime  Crimes against chastity, acts of lasciviousness,
7. Determination of the presence of certain diseases seduction, abduction, adultery, pilferage
 Only the victim has the right to file the complaint
Disputed paternity may arise – with the exclusion of all others unless the victim is a
1. When the wife committed adultery and the husband denied minor and the guardian/the parents refuse to file a
to be the father of the child case then the state may file the case for his behalf.
2. When a child was born out of lawful wedlock and the mother 2. Public Crimes
claimed someone to be the father but he vehemently denied  Even if the victim does not want to file the case, the
it case will prosper.
3. In a claim for support or right of succession of the alleged  Like for instance, I killed my brother. Of course my
illegitimate child. parents would not want to file a case against me.
Disputed maternity may arise – The state would have to file a case against either
1. In case of allegation of interchange of children in a hospital or homicide or murder. Not parricide kasi brother ko
nursery home, either accidentally or deliberately yun. Parricide – killing the wife, ascendants and
2. In cases of wayward or stray children being claimed by two or descendants.
more women  Rape used to be a private crime, now a public
crime.
3. For ownership of dead fetus or newly born child found in
street trash.

For parties who do not want to undergo a paternity test or


simply the test is not available. How will the court decide
paternity?
1. Parental Likeness – there is no doubt you are the
father. Magkamukhang magkamukha kayo, parang
pinagbiyak na buko.
2. Public Acknowledgement
 Guys listen, you don’t have to acknowledge the
child as yours. Gusto mo kamustahin talaga yung
anak mo. When you text the mother, you text –
Kamusta na ang anak mo? Because if you text –
Kamusta na ang anak natin? You have just
acknowledged that he is your child.
 Text messages, letters, emails are admissible
evidence.
 Never never acknowledge. Do not acknowledge
because you cannot anymore deny paternity

Problems to be answered in the Examination of Blood


 Determine whether the stain is due to blood.
 If due to blood, determine whether it is of human origin or
not.
 If it is of human origin, to what group does it belong?

MANCI  COPYRIGHT 2017 Page 6 of 6

You might also like