Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

House Bill No. S702

Introduced by Representatives Ria Christina G. Farifias
and Rudys Caesar G. Farifias |

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to penalize dishonesty and untruthfulness of any patient in times of
public health emergency to form part of an integral strategy to prevent further casualties
in times where health and life are both at risk.

Medical representatives like physicians, nurses, medical technologists, and the ke
have spent almost their entire lives addressing the medical needs of their patients.
However, in order to provide proper diagnosis and treatment, a patient must fully disclose
their medical condition or history. Only through honesty and truthfulness will a patient and
its attending medical representative both be saved from any kind of sickness or disease
that may be contracted with the primary goal of recovery. No doctor in their practice
wants to harm nor be harmed. Communication is the key with any doctor-patient
relationship.

In late 2019, a new and unresearched virus sprung in Wuhan, China emanating
from both dead and live animals that can be transmitted to humans called the
‘Coronavirus Disease’ or commonly known as 'COVID-19'. Due to lack of proper handling
and information, there was failure to contain the virus which has spread globally. This virus
can easily be transmitted from one person to another through droplets of saliva or
discharges. An infected person is reported to experience mild to moderate respiratory
ilinesses. However, for individuals like the senior citizens, children and those with pre-
existing conditions are more prone to develop serious symptoms like difficulty in
breathing, body aches, nausea and the like which may cost their lives. Unfortunately,
there is still no known vaccine or treatment for the virus.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), as of May 6, 2020, the number of
coronavirus cases in the Philippines has already reached 9,684 with 637 deaths. Sadly,
earlier that month, two physicians lost their lives in the battle against the virus while fulfilling
their duties as front liners. It was reported that their patients lied about their medical


conditions and their recent travel to a country with a known exposure to the said virus. If
the patients were only honest in the beginning, the lives of the said physicians may have
been spared and may still be with us in fighting the virus. This has caused not just distress
to their colleagues and their families but to the medical team of the Philippines. Front
liners are already risking their lives and health in addressing this pandemic. Unfortunately,
due to one’s dishonesty, the number of front liners have decreased. In times of such
health crisis, our medical representatives are the most important individuals and our
heroes, thus, the need to provide protection for them.

Thus, this bill aims to assist our medical representatives in fighting not just this
pandemic but future possible diseases that may affect one's health.

Rl “AESAR G. FARINAS |



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 6702

Introduced by Representatives Ria Christina G. Farifias
and Rudys Caesar G. Farifias |

AN ACT
PENALIZING THE DISHONESTY OR UNTRUTHFUL DECLARATION OF ANY PATIENT IN TIMES OF
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OR PANDEMIC, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 11332, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MANDATORY REPORTING OF NOTIFIABLE DISEASES
AND HEALTH EVENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN ACT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. This Act shall be known as “The Anti-Patient’s Dishonesty Act of 2020."

Sec. 2. There shall be a provision to be added in Republic Act No. 11332 in order to
penalize the act of dishonesty or untruthful declaration of a patient in times of public
health emergency of pandemic which shall read as follows:

Section 9-A. Any person who shall be required by any medical clinic, hospital,
health center or any healthy facility, whether public or private, including
quarantine stations established by the government, to fil-up or accomplish
information sheet, data form, declaration or any similar document, shall be
expected fo state the truth and disclose all relevant information as may be
required in the said form or document or as may be asked by the health personnel
or concemed public officer such as but not limited to nurse, physician or their

assistants, quarantine officers, or any peace officer.


Any such patient who is found to have knowingly and deliberately lie, committed
dishonesty and/or withheld relevant information (such as but not limited to travel
history, experience of symptoms, medical condition/history, etc.) during a state of
public health emergency as declared by the National Goverment or a
pandemic as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) shall be punished
by an imprisonment of one (1) year or with a fine of not less than twenty thousand
pesos (P20,000.00) but not more than fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00), or both
such imprisonment and fine, at the discretion of the court.

Any omission of the required relevant information of which a reasonable person is
expected to have knowledge shall be prima facie evidence of the violation of this
Act.

Sec. 3. If any part, section or provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional,

other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of

general circulation or through the official gazette website, whichever is earlier, in view of

the prevailing circumstances.

Approved,