Senator Raffy Tulfo welcomed prompt action by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to issue a work stoppage order against The Icon Clinic owned by Dr. Eric Yapjuanco aka “Doc Yappy” citing several violations discovered during its labor inspection.
It can be recalled that during the budget hearing of DOLE, Tulfo criticized the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for its slow response to cases involving doctors allegedly committing medical malpractice against their patients, some of which reportedly resulted in deaths.
One of the cases raised by the legislator involved procedures performed at Icon Clinic that were reportedly linked to patient deaths. Despite these incidents, the doctor involved had allegedly not had their license revoked by PRC.
“’DOLE should issue a cease-and-desist order against the clinic and investigate the reported medical malpractice incidents.”
The lawmaker then directed DOLE to issue a cease-and-desist order against the clinic and investigate the reported medical malpractice incidents, a directive supported by DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino. Tolentino also vowed to conduct an inspection of Icon Clinic to determine whether it had violated labor laws.
During a meeting held at the DOLE office in Intramuros, attended by representatives from DOLE and Icon Clinic, as well as members of Tulfo’s Senate staff, DOLE reported that it had conducted a labor inspection at the clinic on October 1.
During the inspection, Icon Clinic was reportedly found to have violated labor standards, including noncompliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) and requirements for Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Control (HIRAC).
The clinic owned by Yapjuangco also allegedly failed to submit the required OSHS documents to DOLE. In addition, the clinic had only one safety personnel member, despite the requirement for two.
Tolentino also reportedly summoned Yapjuangco to his office for a personal interview, but the doctor sent only a lawyer in their place.
Days after the inspection, DOLE issued a work stoppage order against Icon Clinic, temporarily suspending its operations. The clinic’s management then promised to address the violations identified by DOLE within the prescribed 20-calendar-day correction period.
Tulfo expressed his gratitude to DOLE for its prompt action on the issue.
“The PRC must also take action by at the very least imposing a preventive suspension against Yapjuangco.”
However, he stressed that the PRC must also take action by at the very least imposing a preventive suspension against Yapjuangco, given the seriousness of the incidents linked to the doctor and the lives of patients at stake.
Despite the work stoppage order, Yapjuangco could still perform surgical procedures at other clinics or hospitals.
“The PRC should not sit on this issue because lives are at stake,” Tulfo concluded.
