A factory worker voluntarily underwent HIV testing.

The result shows that the worker is positive with the

infection. He/She reported about it to the administration. He/ She is now hearing discriminatory
remarks from the co-workers. Apparently, the administrator spread the news of his condition to the
workers.

Health Policy:

How does the law affect the character?

The Article 6, Section 30 of the Republic Act No. 8504 or the Philippines AIDS Prevention and Control Act
of 1998 clearly states “All health professionals, medical instructors, workers, employers, recruitment
agencies, insurance companies, data encoders, and other custodians of any medical record, file, data, or
test results are directed to strictly observe confidentiality in the handling of all medical information,
particularly the identity and status of persons with HIV.”

If to the extent, both the employer and employee know this provision of law, their character should
affect the way they act and reacted. The employee in this section clearly has the right to observe
confidentiality, or simply says, not to disclose his identity having HIV. If to the extent that he/she has
disclosed it, the employer should otherwise remain the information confidential.

It seems that the situation given here shows that both party are ignorant of the law. Medical
confidentiality in this regard was breached, and a penalty for the employer can be imposed.

Upon scouting the area, neighbor A identifies a certain plant as a source of an addictive substance. The
area is owned by a rich businessman in the city.

Health Policy:

How does it affect both characters?

If you are neighbor A, from whom will you ask help about your concern?

1. Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act

2. If I am neighbor A, I will go to the nearest Police Station in our locality and ask some personnel about
my concern because it involves addictive substance or should we say, a kind of drugs.

Certainly, neighbor A will prudently take action as soon as possible to report this incident to proper
authorities. For the meantime, he should remain calm and confident. If they are good neighbors to
each other, neighbor A should inform the rich businessman about the situation that bothers him. It
might be that neighbor A has false alarm of the matter. Or it might be that the rich businessman is not
aware that he has planted certain plant as a source of an addictive substance. Whatever the case, it
would be good to have a confidential talk first between them, and if it is clear that there is violation of
the law, proper legal action is necessary, especially if the rich neighbor has been informed already about
the matter.

If I am neighbor A, I will ask help directly to the chief of National Bureau of Investigation, knowing that
the person involved is rich and maybe an influencial man in the government.

A couple is getting married in a few months. They are required to attend seminars on family planning.

Health Policy:

How does the law affect the character?

What advice would you give the couple?

Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act (RA 10354)

The couple must seriously attend the seminars before getting married to fully understand how to handle
having a family and also their relationship. They will strongly build a better foundation for their future
family when they fully understand this. As what we have learned our lesson: Family planning is a
preparation for responsible parenthood. When a couple agrees to practice this, they will only have the
number of children they can afford to support. Therefore, there will be no unwanted pregnancy for the
couple. They will still have enough time to enjoy each other’s company without having too many
children to attend to.

an old person consults a doctor and is advised to undergo a alternative health care. the old person is
apprehensive and doubtful of the health care option. What is the health policy? How does it affect the
character? Why do people think lowly about alternative and complementary healthcare modalities?

It is published in Ra 8423 or in the 1997 Act on Conventional and Alternative Medicine. Since they don't
think alternative therapies are effective.
There are cases in which even doctors would leave the book and recommend alternative health care,
such as acupuncture, acupressure and even chiropractic medicine, as they believe it best for the patient.
Many alternative medicine methods are based on holistic medicine. This means that a person is not
viewed as an organ or a disease, but as an individual. The "prescription" that they also offer appears to
be normal and relates to improvements in diet and lifestyle — something that most elderly people will
not understand.

For all of us, including the elderly, medication is supposed to correct something wrong. We want to
carry on with our life without altering any of our bad habits, and when we're sick, expect meds or
medications to cure it all. I'm side-by - side with holistic medicine here that attitudes and beliefs should
be changed first for a person to recover.

IF I WERE GIVEN A CHANCE TO TALK TO ONE OF THE LAWMAKER HERE IN PHILIPPINES, I WOULD ASK
“WHAT IS THE POINT IN PASSING THE REPUBLIC ACT NO.9211 OR THE TOBACCO REGULATION ACT OF
2003?” BECAUSE I’VE NOTICED HERE IN OUR BARANGAY, OUR NIEGHBORS TO BE EXACT,EVEN THOUGH
THERE IS A LAW PREVENTING IN THE USE OR SALE OF TOBACCO, WHY MY NIEBORS STILL SMOKING,NOT
BECAUSE THEY ARE AFFECTING THEMSELVES BUT WE ARE ALSO SENSITIVE TO THE SMELL AND SMOKE
EMISSED BY CIGARETTES AND THAT IS THE QUESTION I’M GOING TO ASK FOR.