AN ACT TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED TWENTY-THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-TWO

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 4224 (An Act to Amend Certain Sections of the Medical Act of 1959)

Board of Medical Education
- Composition of the Board (Sec. 3)
- Compensation and traveling expenses for Board members (Sec. 4)
- Functions of the Board (Sec. 5)
    - Prescribe minimum requirements for admission to medical colleges
    - Prescribe minimum physical facilities, equipment, and supplies for medical colleges
    - Prescribe minimum qualifications and student-teacher ratio for teaching personnel
    - Recommend minimum required curriculum
    - Determine the number of students to be admitted to medical colleges
    - Keep a register of medical students and collect a fee of 5 pesos from each student
    - Approve hospitals or departments for medical training
    - Promulgate and enforce necessary rules and regulations

Minimum Required Courses and Curriculum (Sec. 6)
- Prerequisite courses and units required for admission to medical course
- Duration of medical course (at least 5 years including 11 months of internship)
- List of subjects to be included in the medical course

Admission Requirements (Sec. 7)
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent
- Certificate of eligibility from Board of Medical Education
- Certificate of good moral character
- Birth certificate
- Record keeping and publication requirements for medical colleges

Qualifications for Board Examinations (Sec. 9)
- Citizenship requirements
- Good moral character
- Sound mind
- No conviction of moral turpitude offense
- Holder of Doctor of Medicine degree or equivalent

Definition of Practice of Medicine (Sec. 10)
- Examining, diagnosing, treating, operating, or prescribing remedies for compensation
- Offering or advertising medical services
- Falsely using the title "M.D."

Exemptions from Practice of Medicine (Sec. 11)
- Medical students under supervision
- Registered dentists practicing dentistry
- Registered masseurs or physiotherapists under physician's order
- Registered optometrists fitting lenses or eyeglasses
- Emergency services where physician is unavailable
- Administering household remedies
- Clinical psychologists or mental hygienists under physician's supervision
- Prosthetists fitting artificial limbs under physician's supervision

Limited Practice Without Registration (Sec. 12)
- Foreign physicians in consultation or with international organizations
- U.S. Armed Forces medical officers serving their personnel
- Foreign exchange professors in specialized fields
- Medical students, graduates, and nurses authorized during epidemics or emergencies

Board of Medical Examiners (Sec. 13)
- Composition and appointment process
- Duties and examination procedures
- Qualifications for examiners (Sec. 14)
- Tenure, compensation, and removal of examiners (Sec. 15)

Executive Officer and Secretary of the Board (Sec. 16)
- Duties and responsibilities
- Maintaining records and registration book
- Providing examination questions and ratings to medical colleges

Examination Dates and Fees (Sec. 18 & 19)
- Examinations to be held twice a year, with at least 6 months interval
- Fees: 75 pesos for complete examination, 40 pesos for preliminary or final examination, 20 pesos for registration

Issuance of Certificates of Registration (Sec. 20)
- Grounds for refusal: conviction of moral turpitude offense, immoral or dishonorable conduct, unsound mind

Scope of Examinations (Sec. 21)
- Subjects for preliminary, final, and complete examinations
- Passing requirements (75% general average, no subject below 50%)
- Refresher course requirement after 3 failures

Administrative Investigations (Sec. 22)
- Additional duties of the Board of Medical Examiners
- Conducting investigations and hearings
- Promulgating rules and regulations

Rights of Respondents (Sec. 25)
- Right to counsel, speedy and public hearing, confrontation of witnesses, and other constitutional rights