OVER 70 PHILIPPINE-EDUCATED DOCTORS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DEMAND CORRECTION OR RETRACTION OF DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS
Reproduced below is the demand letter of the Author to the President of ABC Television Network, Mr. Mark Pedowitz, listing the names of the doctors and their corresponding medical schools in the Philippines.
October 18, 2007
ABC Television Network
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4551
Attention : Mr. Mark Pedowitz
President
Re : California Civil Code §48a Demand For Correction
Or Retraction
Dear Mr. Pedowitz:
Demand is hereby given to the ABC Television Network for broadcast correction or retraction in accordance with California Civil Code §48a, which essentially deals with correction of defamatory statements.
The slanderous statements were contained in ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” September 30, 2007 season premiere episode, wherein actress Teri Hatcher, playing the role of Susan Mayer, said: “Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? ‘Coz I would just like to make sure they are not from some med schools in the Philippines.” Later, Teri Hatcher said, “I don’t know what kind of nonsense they taught you at…”
The statements imply that Philippine medicals schools are below acceptable standard of quality; and that therefore their graduates are deficiently-educated and their competence to practice medicine is questionable. This is not true. The Medical Board of the State of California issued a Report dated April 20, 1999, which it submitted to the California Legislature. It basically stated that the quality of Philippine medical schools are equivalent to California medical schools. Please find attached hereto as Exhibit “A” portions of that Medical Board Report.
It is estimated that there are about 22,000 Philippine-educated physicians practicing in the United States, taking good, if not excellent, care of thousands of patients of different
racial background. They have passed stringent visa qualifying examinations, gone through internship and residency training, and passed more examinations for their licensing and specialty, normally more examinations than U.S. med school-educated physicians.
As of October 16, 2007, 123,638 have registered at www.petitiononline.com, protesting the defamatory statements of Teri Hatcher in the September 30, 2007, episode of Desperate Housewives, and demanding an apology.
The foregoing statements are false, unprivileged, and defamatory under Section 46 of the California Civil Code, which “tend to directly injure (our clients’) professional reputation.”
Our clients, Philippine-educated physicians practicing medicine in the United States, contend that they have been materially damaged by the false and unprivileged broadcast of the defamatory statements that affected their reputations as medical practitioners.
More specifically, our clients have suffered and continue to suffer special and general damages and are further entitled in our opinion to exemplary damages in a court of law.
Pursuant to §48a(1) of the California Civil Code, on behalf of our clients, we demand that you immediately broadcast a correction of the foregoing slanderous statements in substantially as conspicuous a manner as they were made, appropriately in a subsequent episode of “Desperate Housewives” no later than three (3) weeks of this letter. As an alternative, the correction could take the form of an ABC-produced historical documentary about Filipino physicians in the United States in the past half a century. We are willing to extend the 3-week period to six (6) months for this alternative correction.
Our clients reserve all rights. They make this written demand for correction within the 20-day period from their awareness of the slanderous statements. Please find enclosed as Exhibit “B” a list of our clients who have suffered and are suffering special and general damages.
Please communicate any response to this demand letter to the undersigned.
Very truly yours,
ROMAN P. MOSQUEDA
PRACTICING PHYSICIANS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHO GRADUATED FROM SOME MED SCHOOLS IN THE PHILIPPINES:
Names Schools
1. Dr. Alexander V. Abary University of the East RM
2. Dr. Melvin Agatep University of the East RM
3. Dr. Jacqueline Agcaoili St. Louis University
4. Dr. Marites Agner Trinidad Romualdez Medical
Foundation
5. Dr. Manuel Aguillera University of the East RM
6. Dr. Remedios Almirante University of Sto. Tomas
7. Dr. Salvador A. Arella Manila Central University (MCU)
8. Dr. Merlyn Ascuncion University of the East RM
9. Dr. Joselito P. Babaran University of the East RM
10. Dr. Michael Baluyot University of Sto. Tomas
11. Dr. Edgar C. Bañez University of the East RM
12. Dr. Robinson Baron Far Eastern University
13. Dr. Maximino P. Basco University of Sto. Tomas
14. Dr. Teodoro Bautista Virgen Milagrosa University
15. Dr. Greg Brown Far Eastern University
16. Dr. Lourdes Brown Far Eastern University
17. Dr. Rufino Cadano Far Eastern University
18. Dr. Angel Palanca Capistrano University of Sto. Tomas
19. Dr. Virgencita Cortez Cebu Institute of Medicine
20. Dr. Lydia A. Cruz University of the East RM
21. Dr. Mari Escay University of the East RM
22. Dr. Evangeline Y. De Guzman Far Eastern University
23. Dr. Lino J. De Guzman University of Sto. Tomas
24. Dr. Rosalie De Guzman University of the Philippines
25. Dr. Angelina De Vera University of the East RM
26. Dr. Freddie D. Dial University of the East RM
27. Dr. Gerina S. Dial University of the East RM
28. Dr. Joseph Dinglasan University of the East RM
29. Dr. Zosimo Dulalia University of Sto. Tomas
30. Dr. Ananias E. Ebilane University of the East RM
31. Dr. Ruby Mercado-Fajardo Far Eastern University
32. Dr. Lilia Figueroa University of Sto. Tomas
33. Dr. Erlinda Dy-Grey University of Sto. Tomas
34. Dr. Renato Judalena Manila Central University (MCU)
35. Dr. Robert E. Ladines University of Sto. Tomas
36. Dr. Rosario Lagman University of Sto. Tomas
37. Dr. Thelma Lamorena University of the Philippines
38. Dr. Reynaldo P. Landero Manila Central University
39. Dr. Maria R. Leviste University of Sto. Tomas
40. Dr. Eduardo Lim University of the Philippines
41. Dr. Johnny A. Liquete University of Sto. Tomas
42. Dr. Andres dela Llana University of the East RM
43. Dr. Sylvia dela Llana University of the Philippines
44. Dr. Jose Lopez University of the East RM
45. Dr. Deo Martinez University of the East RM
46. Dr. Conrado J. Miranda University of the East RM
47. Dr. Dennis Montenegro University of the East RM
48. Dr. Luz Monticello University of Sto. Tomas
49. Dr. Emma R. Nagar Manila Central University (MCU)
50. Dr. Feliciano Navalta University of the East RM
51. Dr. Emil Padre University of the East RM
52. Dr. Jose M. Pascual University of the Philippines
53. Dr. Jose R. Pilpa University of the East RM
54. Dr. Federico Quevedo University of the Philippines
55. Dr. Edwardita V. Quevedo University of the Philippines
56 Dr. Amor Quinio University of Sto. Tomas
57. Dr. Filemon Quinio University of Sto. Tomas
58. Dr. Joseph Rastrollo University of the East RM
59. Dr. Neda Ballon-Reyes University of the East RM
60. Dr. Chito Sansano University of the Sto. Tomas
61. Dr. Antonio A. Tan Far Eastern University
62. Dr. Africa So-Torio University of the East RM
63. Dr. Rolando Torio University of the East RM
64. Dr. Bellaflor V. Trompeta Far Eastern University
65. Dr. Buenaflor R. Uy Far Eastern University
66. Dr. David Viloria Virgen Milagrosa University
67. Dr. Lourdes Viloria Virgen Milagrosa University
68. Dr. Hermilito L. Villar University of the Philippines
69. Dr. Raphael Villaroza University of Sto. Tomas
70. Dr. Hedy Jimenez Windsor University of the East RM
71. Dr. Gladys Hope D. Yerro Far Eastern University
72. Dr. Augusto Zablan University of the East RM
73. Dr. Noli R. Zosa University of Sto. Tomas