Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

: ‘iy
House Bill No, L272

Introduced by REP. AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The proposed bill seeks to prevent the undesirable practice of hospitals and medical
clinics of preventing the release of fully recovered and/or dead patients for non ~ payment, either
partially or fully, of hospital bills.

The aforesaid practice has resulted in unnecessarily prolonged, and hence more
expensive, stay of the financially distressed patients. Unchecked and undisturbed, the practice is
a simple case of detention against the will of the patients pending full payment of bills which, in
a sense, constitutes a deprivation of liberty on grounds of financial incapacity. In any tanguage, it
is legally and morally unacceptable posture.

‘The bill allows the underprivileged patient to leave the hospital upon the execution of a
duly secured promissory note and imposes a penal sanction for the violation of any of its
provisions.

While the rights of hospital owners and/or medical practitioners must be respected, there
must be a better and more humane way of treating patients who, having been adequately attended
to, already wish to leave the hospital were it not for their unpaid bills, To the financially
incapable patient, it is a matter of liberty and livelihood; to the hospital owners and the medical
practitioners, it simply means a little financial sacrifice.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

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AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.

2" District, Province of lloilo


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

i 1272

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE DETENTION OF LIVE OR DEAD PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS
AND MEDICAL CLINIC ON GROUNDS OF NONPAYMENT OF HOSPITAL BILLS
OR MEDICAL EXPENSES

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

SECTION 1. It shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinics in the country to
detain or to otherwise cause, directly or indirectly, the detention of patients who have fully or
partially recovered or have been adequately attended to or who may have died for reasons of
nonpayment in part or in full, of hospital bills or medical expenses.

SEC. 2. Patients who have fully or partially recovered and who already wish to leave the

hospital or medical clinic but are financial

incapable to settle, in part or in full, their

hospitalization expenses, including professional fees and medicines, shall be allowed to leave the

hospital or medical clinic, with a right to demand the issuance of the corresponding medical

certificate and other pertinent papers upon the execution of a promissory note covering the

unpaid the obligation. The promissory note shall be secured by either a mortgage or by a
guarantee of a co ~ maker, acceptable to the hospital management, who will be jointly and
severely liable with the patient for the unpaid obligation. In the case of the deceased patient, the

corresponding death certificate and other documents required for the interment and other

purposes shall be released to any of his surviving relatives executing the promissory note.


SEC.

Any officer or employee of the hospital or medical clinic responsible for the
releasing patients, who violates the provisions of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less
than Five Thousand (P5,000.00) Pesos but not more than Fifteen Thousand (P15,000.00) Pesos
or imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than six (6) months, or both such
fine and imprisonment.

SEC. 4, The Department of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
to carry out the provisions of this Act

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2)
national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.