UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS FACULTY OF CIVIL LAW LIST OF CASES Torts and Damages

Regina Capanzana was brought to petitioner hospital for an emergency C-section. She successfully gave birth to a baby boy. 13 hours after her operation, she asked for oxygen, and complained of a headache, a chilly sensation, restlessness, and shortness of breath. It took around 10 minutes for nurses to respond to the call and administer oxygen. She was eventually transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, where she was hooked to a mechanical ventilator. When her condition still showed no improvement, Regina was transferred to the Cardinal Santos Hospital. The doctors thereat found that she was suffering from rheumatic heart disease mitral stenosis with mild pulmonary hypertension. This development resulted in cardiopulmonary arrest and, subsequently, brain damage. Regina lost the use of her speech, eyesight, hearing and limbs. She was discharged in a vegetative state and eventually died. Respondent spouses Capanzana filed a complaint for damages against petitioner hospital, along with co-defendants: the nurses on duty. They allege that the nurses were negligent for not having promptly given oxygen, and that the hospital was equally negligent for not making available and accessible the oxygen unit on that same hospital floor. ISSUE: W/N petitioner hospital is negligent. RULING