Due to recent scandals and anomalies involving medical practitioners...
Villar Calls for Review of the Philippine Medical Act

Nacionalista Party President Senator Manny Villar, under Senate Resolution (SRN) 1115 he filed recently, is calling for the urgent review of the Republic Act (RA.) 2382 or the Philippine Medical Act of 1959 which has become outdated or pass... over the decades.

"The said law is the only one that governs the practice of medicine in the country and some medical practitioners admitted that it has already become antiquated due to the evolving needs and concerns on medical care as well as innovations in the practice of the profession itself," Villar cited.

Villar further cited that during the 13th Congress, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have respectively filed proposed Senate Bill No. 2590 and House Bill No. 04861 aimed at repealing RA 2382 but was never passed. Thus, the former Senate President is recommending anew the review of the said law.

Villar in calling for the review is seeking to update the country's policies in the practice of medicine taking into account the dangerous effect of patients losing their trust in doctors. "Had it not for the celebrated Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili scandal, the pass... law may not have been revisited and the obsolescence of some of its provisions could have been missed," Villar further cited in SRN 1115.

According to Villar, "Doctor-patient confidentiality is an important component of the code of ethics of any medical practitioner. Although violation of which entails some form of punishment or penalty, repeated violations or breach of trust take its toll on the medical profession's integrity and professionalism."

SRN 1115 cites as one of the other controversial cases that involved unethical practices in medical profession, the Cebu scandal wherein a delicate surgical procedure in a Cebu hospital was videotaped and uploaded on the Internet without the knowledge and express consent of the hapless patient.

SRN 1115 is directing the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization and other appropriate Senate committees to revisit and review RA 2382 or Philippine Medical Act of 1959 with the end view of adjusting the said law and adapting the same with the evolving needs and concerns of both medical practitioners and their patients. RA 2382 supervises, controls and regulates the practice of medicine in the country.