Bill seeks penalties against hospitals, funeral parlors

Posted at 11:21 am October 04, 2011

Tags: Legislation

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By Marjorie Gorospe

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA— A bill filed in Congress seeks to stiffer penalties against hospitals and funeral parlors that “detain” patients and cadavers for failure of relatives to settle their bills.

House Bill 5286, or the “Expanded Patients Illegal Detention Act of 2011” filed by Pampanga 1st District Representative Carmelo Lazatin, proposes criminal charges against owners of hospitals and funeral parlors.

According to Lazatin, there are still many instances wherein patients or cadavers are detained as a way of forcing relatives to come up with payments.

The bill recommends that those who who would delay or prohibit the release should face two years of imprisonment and a fine of no less than P200,000, or both.

Relatives who cannot settle expenses are required to issue a promissory note, secured by either a guarantee of co-maker or a mortgage. For patients, those who stay in private rooms, however, are not covered by the proposed bill.

The bill also mandates the Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to formulate a special program for their members who cannot afford to pay medical bills.

A promissory note, Lazatin said, would suffice as long as the patient is an outstanding member of these agencies.

Relatives of a deceased patient, meanwhile, can show a death certificate and other documents required for interment along with the promissory note from either SSS, GSIS or DSWD to release the cadaver.

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