ObliConDigest - Pelayo Vs. Lauron 12 Phil.

453

Facts:
On November 23, 1906, Arturo Pelayo, a physician, filed a complaint against Marcelo and Juana Abella.
He alleged that on October 13, 1906 at night, Pelayo was called to the house of the defendants to assist
their daughter-in-law who was about to give birth to a child. Unfortunately, the daughter-in-law died as
a consequence of said childbirth. Thus, the defendant refuses to pay. The defendants argue that their
daughter-in-law lived with her husband independently and in a separate house without any relation,
that her stay there was accidental and due to fortuitous event.

Issue:
Whether or not the defendants should be held liable for the fees demanded by the plaintiff upon
rendering medical assistance to the defendants’ daughter-in-law.

Ruling:
No. The Court held that the rendering of medical assistance is one of the obligations to which spouses
are bound by mutual support, expressly determined by law and readily demanded. Therefore, there was
no obligation on the part of the in-laws but rather on the part of the husband who is not a party. Thus,
decision affirmed.