Court orders private hospital to release patient

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The Regional Trial Court (RTC) here ordered a private hospital to release a patient from confinement who was detained for failure to settle her hospital bills due to lack of money.

In a two-page resolution, RTC Branch 17 Judge Kristine Tiangco-Vinculado ordered Saint Anthony’s College of Roxas City, Inc. Hospital to release Maelyn Arrojado as the hospital has no right to detain the patient for failure to pay hospital bills.

Arrojado was confined in the hospital on April 13, 2019 when she gave birth to her child via Caesarean procedure.

Her hospital bills totalled P107,000 because the baby suffered complications.

The attending physician later discharged the patient after her family paid P41,000 with the promise to pay the balance later.

But the hospital management allegedly refused despite the promissory note with Arrojado’s house as collateral.

Arrojado alleged that her movements inside the hospital premises were limited because hospital personnel always escorted her wherever she goes.

Because of this, she sought legal assistance from Atty. Christian Bryann Tidong who filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus, which the court granted.

Arrojado was released after assuring the hospital management that she will pay her balance.