‘Philippines not yet ripe for medical malpractice law’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is not yet ripe for a medical malpractice law, as there are Filipinos who have not even seen a doctor, according to doctor-lawmaker in the House of Representatives.

Malasakit@Bayanihan partylist Rep. Anthony Rolando Golez Jr. yesterday said the country’s public health system is not yet ready for such a legislation, which is similar to that of the United States.

Having worked as a rural doctor and as executive assistant of former health secretary Manuel Dayrit, Golez noted he knew the situation in many remote communities, which have not been visited by a doctor or even a nurse.

“There is no laboratory or X-ray in the barrio. The patients just rely on the clinical eyes of the doctors in their diagnosis,” he added.

Golez cited, for instance, that there are doctors who can spot an appendicitis case needing appendectomy based on the patient’s signs and symptoms.

But with medical malpractice law, he underscored that doctors will likely require a series of laboratories to validate their observation.

“Our system is not yet perfect for laws like that. Doctors will become ‘defensive doctors.’ So, instead of giving priority to the welfare of the patients, they will protect themselves first against any possible complaints from patients,” he said, adding that this may also drive physicians even more to go out of the Philippines.

According to civil service and professional regulation panel chair and Bohol Rep. Kristine Alexie Bohol, the measure will replace the 64-year-old Medical Act of 1959.

Bohol said the salient features of the proposed measure includes the integration of the Philippine Medical association as the Integrated Philippine Medical Association under which all licensed doctors shall be members.

She added that such membership shall be a prerequisite to practice the profession. Golez said the measure shall upgrade the medical curriculum, its training and standard of practice.

He added that existing legislation does not include advances in the field of medicine such as the use of telemedicine, robotic surgery and freezing of embryo.