Garin slams Kho's drug use, urges passage of Physicians’ Act
Representative Janette Garin (First District, Iloilo) is angered over Dr. Hayden Kho.
And no, it has absolutely nothing to do with the country's most famous and infamous cosmetic surgeon's sexual prowess.
But yes, the unauthorized filming of the sexual trysts was deplorable, the Ilongga solon said, just as equally condemnable is 's drug use casually admitted apparently even when he was actively practicing medicine.
As such, Garin called on Congress to pass the Physicians Act if only to ensure that these unethical practices in the medical profession are addressed.
Dr. Kho in the equally controversial Senate hearing admitted the drug use with the Senate probe an aftershock of the expose' of his video scandal with actress Katrina Halili. Kho revealed using the highly-addictive drug Ecstasy known to be accessible in showbiz and high-society circles. The Kho sex scandal opened doors for yet more damning sex videos available on the web with other showbiz personalities.
Garin, who is a physician by profession said that the use of illegal drugs which impairs the normal senses of a person is completely unethical.
“Dr. Kho's admission of drug use is utterly despicable as it did not only taint the reputation of medical professionals in general but he also placed his patients life at risk", Garin in a press statement sent to The News Today (TNT) said. "As policymakers, we have a responsibility to guarantee quality health care is being given to the people and to do that, unethical and abuses in the practice of medicine must be obliterated.
The doctor-solon said that one step in deterring medical abuses is by enacting a law such as House Bill 6403 or the Physicians Act.
To note, it was Garin who filed the Bill in the House of Representatives and was approved last week on second reading.
“The Medical Act of 1959 is the only law governing the practice of medicine and sad to say, it has become obsolete. Needs and problems on medical care have obviously evolved. The fact that non-specialists are performing liposuction surgery without the supposedly required residency training increases the risk of botched procedures,” the lady solon added pointing out the urgency of the Physician's Act.
Additional grounds to revoke the license of a medical professional are included in the current Bill. The changes were incorporated in the proposed Physicians’ Act as opposed to the only three grounds stated in the Medical Act of 1959. Included now is addiction to any habit-forming drug as a ground as it stipulates mandatory membership in the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) as governing body in the practice of medicine, both in the general field and the specialty field here in the country.
Garin emphasized that, “The number one unspoken rule in the medical profession is to ‘Do No Harm’. The proposed Physicians’ Act seeks to further strengthen that rule as it provides precise regulations needed to effectively go after violators and prosecute them. The proposed measure further professionalizes the medical profession”.
“ The allegations against Dr. Kho should not be treated like any other scandal that we will talk about in a month or so and do nothing about it later. This is serious as it also mirrors realities that must be dealt with by the government” Garin explained. “After all the investigations on this high-profile case, I call on the Senate to consider the urgency of passing its version of the Physicians Act.