Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) — A proposed measure was filed at the House of Representatives requiring veterinarians to obtain an insurance worth ₱50,000 to answer for any claims of damages due to malpractices resulting in injury or death of any animal patient.
“All veterinarians shall be required to obtain Veterinary Malpractice Insurance of no less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (₱50,000) for any claims of damages arising from the act or omission perpetrated by the insured resulting to injury or loss of life to any animal,” according to House Bill No. 7896, or the Anti-Veterinary Malpractice Act of 2023.
Failure by any veterinarian to comply with the provisions of the act “shall cause the suspension of his/her professional license and shall remain effective until he/she complied therewith,” it added.
The bill was filed on April 25 by Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte, Lone District of Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Edvic Yap.
The proposed measure also provides that any veterinary malpractice shall be prosecuted upon the filling of a complaint by any of the following: client; parents or legal guardians of the client; grandparents or collateral relatives; and a concerned veterinary hospital or clinic employee of where the crime was committed.
“Upon belief of veterinary malpractice, the complainant shall reserve the right to preserve the remains of his/her patient and immediately take the patient’s body to another veterinarian for a necropsy,” the bill read.
If passed into law, medical malpractice in veterinary medicine is punishable by prison correccional and a fine ranging from ₱100,000 to ₱500,000, aside from the cancellation and revocation of permits and licenses.
