ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | November 7, 2023
Dear Chief Acosta,
Ang kapatid ko ay namatay sa ospital kung saan ang kanyang hospital bill ay umabot ng mahigit P300,000.00 kahit na siya ay naka-admit sa kanilang ward lamang. Nais naming kunin ang mga labi ng aking kapatid, at maging ang kanyang death certificate upang siya ay maipalibing namin ngunit hindi pumayag ang ospital. Sinabi ng empleyado ng ospital na kinakailangan diumano muna naming magsumite ng promissory note bago namin makuha ang mga labi at death certificate ng aking kapatid. Maaari ba iyon? - Leon
Dear Leon,
Ang mga batas na sasaklaw patungkol sa iyong katanungan ay ang Republic Act No. 9439 o ang ACT PROHIBITING THE DETENTION OF PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CLINICS ON GROUNDS OF NONPAYMENT OF HOSPITAL BILLS OR MEDICAL EXPENSES, at ang kaukulang Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) nito. Nakasaad sa Section 2 ng batas na:
“SEC. 2. Patients who have fully or partially recovered and who already wish to leave the hospital or medical clinic but are financially 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 required for the release of the patient from the hospital or medical clinic upon the execution of a promissory note covering the unpaid obligation. The promissory note shall be secured by either a mortgage or by a guarantee of a co-maker, who will be jointly and severally liable with the patient for the unpaid obligation.
In the case of a deceased patient, the corresponding death certificate and other documents required for interment and other purposes shall be released to any of his surviving relatives requesting for the same: Provided, however, That patients who stayed in private rooms shall not be covered by this Act.”
Nakasaad din sa IRR ng nasabing batas na:
“V. Policies and Guidelines: A. General Policies:
3. In the case of a deceased patient, any of his/ her surviving relatives who refuse to execute a promissory note shall be allowed to claim the cadaver and can demand the issuance of death certificate and other pertinent documents for interment purposes. Documents for other purposes shall be released only after execution of a promissory note.
4. In the case of a deceased patient, any hospital or medical clinic refusing to release the cadaver for reason of nonpayment, in part or in full, of hospital bills or medical expenses/ hospitalization expenses shall be held accountable for such unlawful act.”
Alinsunod sa nabanggit na probisyon ng batas at kaakibat nitong IRR, maaari mong makuha ang mga labi at ang death certificate ng iyong yumaong kapatid upang siya ay maipalibing, kahit na kayo ay hindi magbigay ng promissory note kaugnay sa kanyang naiwang bayarin sa ospital. Ang pagbibigay ng promissory note kaugnay sa pagkuha ng death certificate ay kinakailangan lamang kung ang nasabing dokumento ay gagamitin sa ibang layunin, liban sa pagpapalibing sa taong yumao. Nakasaad din sa nabanggit na panuntunan na ang anumang ospital o medical clinic na tatangging ibigay ang mga labi ng isang taong yumao, sa kadahilanan ng mga naiwang bayarin sa nasabing ospital o medical clinic, ay mananagot sa batas.
Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay.
Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.
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