10/08/2025
Statement on
Public Shaming of Doctors!
The Philippine Medical Association condemns the recent viral post on social media publicly shaming a Surgeon Physician.
Professional fees for doctors can vary based on several factors, including the complexity and type of service rendered and level of expertise of the physician handling the case. Each doctor has the right to determine the worth of his services rendered guided by a common relative value scale followed in the Philippines.
Based on accounts on services rendered to the patient mentioned in the case the hospital charges and professional fees were within acceptable limits of ethical practice.
We therefore condemn the post to malign a physician who performed his duty well. He was singled out despite the fact that there were several medical specialists who handled this very complex case. Based on facts gathered the high professional fee in question was incorrect and was actually lower, the physicians even agreed to be paid with a guarantee letter!
Considering the patient was treated with utmost compassion and concern by the several attending physicians for more than 20 days the social media post claiming "heartless treatment" from the Physicians is unjust and uncalled for.
Let's focus on promoting a supportive and respectful environment for healthcare professionals. Doctors and all health care professionals play a vital role in our lives, and you should be acknowledging their hard work and dedication. You were treated and saved from near death to good health ready for discharge and you repay their kindness with public shaming!
