Can a hospital refuse to treat me without a deposit?
Last updated: 2026-07-10 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
No — refusing or demanding a deposit before emergency or serious treatment is illegal under the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law (Republic Act No. 10932, amending RA 8344). It is unlawful for any hospital or clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept a deposit or advance payment as a prerequisite for basic emergency care, or to refuse the treatment needed to prevent death or permanent disability. Staff who violate it face 6 months and 1 day to 2 years and 4 months in prison or a ₱100,000–₱300,000 fine (₱500,000–₱1,000,000 and 4–6 years for the director or officer behind the policy), and the hospital's license is revoked after three violations. LabanPH can help you report the hospital to the DOH Health Facilities Oversight Board and build the complaint letter.
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Frequently asked
What counts as an 'emergency' or 'serious case'?
RA 10932 §2 defines an emergency as a condition where, based on the objective findings of the medical officer on duty, there is immediate danger and delay may cause loss of life or permanent disability (or, for a pregnant woman, loss of the unborn child or a non-institutional delivery). A serious case is a condition of gravity or danger that, left unattended, may cause loss of life or permanent disability.
Can the hospital still bill me or transfer me afterward?
Yes. The law bans a deposit as a prerequisite to emergency care — it does not cancel the bill. After the patient is stabilised, RA 10932 §3 allows the hospital to transfer the patient to an appropriate facility, and you remain responsible for legitimate charges. What is illegal is withholding emergency care until you pay a deposit.
What if the patient died after being refused?
RA 10932 §5 raises a presumption of liability against the hospital and the officials, practitioners, or employees involved when death, permanent disability, serious impairment, or (for a pregnant woman) loss of the unborn child results from a denial tied to a deposit demand. This is on top of the criminal penalties and any civil damages.
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