Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Councilor mulls charges against hospital
By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
DAVAO CITY -- Councilor Bonifacio E. Militar said he would file charges against the administrators of San Pedro Hospital for demanding a cash deposit before starting treatment on his seriously injured sister.
Militar claimed the hospital violated the law that prohibits the demand of deposits or advance payments for treatment of patients.
He accused San Pedro Hospital of demanding a cash deposit of P50,000 before attending to his younger sister Marrieta Militar, who was injured in a road accident last Sunday.
Marrieta was on her way to attend mass at the Assumption church when she was hit by a motorcycle while crossing F. Torres Street around 5:30 a.m. She was knocked down by the impact and hit her head on the pavement.
"They will not do anything unless we pay cash and my doctor, whom I contacted to be also my sister's doctor, said that my sister needs to be operated on," Militar said in his privileged speech during the City Council session on Tuesday.
"I didn't have enough cash on that day. It was a big amount and it was a Sunday, there was no bank. I have a check but they will not accept it," he said.
After a while, the hospital finally relented and accepted his check, Militar added.
The law states that in emergency or serious cases, "it shall be unlawful for any proprietor or any other medical practitioner or employee of a hospital or medical clinic to demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as a prerequisite for confinement or medical treatment of a patient."
Militar's sister is still in a coma after a five-hour operation.
Militar said he heard of similar complaints against the hospital from his constituents.
"It's okay with me, but the problem is, how about the poor, those who do not have money," Militar said.
With that, he has appealed to fellow council members to support him in stopping "anomalous and illegal operation of hospitals."
"We cannot tolerate this kind of practice of hospitals, this is not because of my sister. I can raise the amount but how about the others. We have to think of our constituents," he added.
Militar said he would propose a resolution enacting an ordinance consistent with the law prohibiting the demand of deposit by hospitals.
"Is this the kind of hospital are we going to allow to operate in our city? I am telling these hospitals now that their profit orientation will end this year. The case will be filed definitely," he said.
Militar said he would inhibit himself from the case and instead let his friend, lawyer Noel Laguindam, handle the case.
Meanwhile, Councilor Jimmy G. Dureza agreed with Militar, saying that it is high time to regulate hospital operation.
"His is not a unique case, there's probably hundreds and thousands. I suggest that he should file the necessary case," Dureza said. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(February 8, 2006 issue)
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