Text of the provision
Sec. 31. Healthcare Provider Response to Abuse – Any healthcare provider, including, but not limited to, an attending physician, nurse, clinician, barangay health worker, therapist or counselor who suspects abuse or has been informed by the victim of violence shall:
(a) properly document any of the victim's physical, emotional or psychological injuries;
(b) properly record any of victim's suspicions, observations and circumstances of the examination or visit;
(c) automatically provide the victim free of charge a medical certificate concerning the examination or visit;
(d) safeguard the records and make them available to the victim upon request at actual cost; and
(e) provide the victim immediate and adequate notice of rights and remedies provided under this Act, and services available to them.
Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, Republic Act No. 9262 (2004). Reproduced in full from the official enactment and verified word-for-word against the LawPhil and ChanRobles renderings.
What this section means
Any healthcare provider — physician, nurse, clinician, barangay health worker, therapist or counselor — who suspects abuse or is told of it must document the injuries and the circumstances of the visit, automatically give the victim a medical certificate free of charge, safeguard the records and release them to the victim on request at actual cost, and inform her of her rights, remedies and available services.
Related provisions
- Section 29 — Duties Of Prosecutors And Court Personnel.
- Section 32 — Duties Of Agencies And LGUs.
Cases citing this section
- Authorities on this section will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.