PEDIATRICS 4.
4 RIGHTS OF THE FILIPINO CHILD
OUTLINE
I. General Principles
II. Responsibilities of the Child
III. Rights of the Hospitalized Child
Legend:
Lecturer Book PPT To Remember
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
These are excerpts from the Child & Welfare Code of the
Philippines
ARTICLE 1: DECLARATION OF POLICY
- Explains the need for the rights of the Filipino child
The child is one of the most important assets of the nation
o The nation will not have a future if it is composed only
by adults
His individual traits & aptitudes should be cultivated to the
utmost
The molding of the character of the child starts at home
o Every member of the family must make a
wholesome and harmonious home
o Attachment to the home and strong family ties
Both of these should be present so that the
child will feel loved & cared for
The right of the parents in rearing the child should receive
aid & support of the government
o Where we see the function of the government to
provide support to every family for the rearing of the
child to maximize the potential & opportunities that will
be given to every child
The school, the church, and the community in general
should assist home & state in preparing the child for
adulthood
o Not every child will be fortunate enough to have
a family of their own
ARTICLE 2: TITLE & SCOPE OF CODE
Title: CHILD & YOUTH WELFARE CODE
Scope: It shall apply to persons below 21 years of age
except those emancipated (already below 18 in the PH but
depends on the country)
ARTICLE 3: RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
All children, without distinction as to legitimacy or
illegitimacy, sex, social status, religion, political
antecedents & other factors, shall be entitled to the rights
herein set forth
1. Every child is endowed the dignity and worth of a
human being from the moment of his conception, as
generally accepted in medical parlance, and has
therefore, the right to be born well.
o It already pre-empts the thoughts of the
government regarding abortion; we respect the
dignity of the child from the moment of
conception
2. Every child has the right to a wholesome family life
that will provide him with love, care and
understanding, guidance & counseling, and moral &
material security
o This right is easily violated intentionally &
unintentionally (intentionally if child abandoned
and left for himself even if the family is able to
TRANSCRIBERS: Stargazer, Luna, Kyot, ONTI, Unknown, MasculadoRice
EDITORS: Luna, Stargazer
May 19, 2022
TP
support the child; unintentionally because of
poverty)
a. The dependent or abandoned child shall be
provided with the nearest substitute for a home
o This is the obligation of the state.
3. Every child has the right to a well-rounded
development of his personality to the end that he
may become a happy, useful & active member of
society.
a. The gifted child shall be given opportunity
and encouragement to develop his special
talents (formulation of special classes that help
nurture gifted children)
b. The emotionally disturbed or socially
maladjusted child shall be treated with
DR. CIRILO DIESMOS sympathy and understanding, and shall be
entitled to treatment & competent care
c. The physically or mentally handicapped
child shall be given the treatment, education
and care required by his particular condition
**Don on the
extremes of the spectrum that we forget those who are in the middle
4. Every child has the right to a balanced diet,
adequate clothing, sufficient shelter, proper
medical attention, and all the basic physical
requirements of a healthy and vigorous life
5. Every child has the right to be brought up in an
atmosphere of morality and rectitude for the
enrichment and the strengthening of his character
o No matter what a family a child has, the child
should be brought up with a good moral character
should never violate this right, but sometimes
parents are perpetuators.
o Whatever you teach the child, that is how the
child will be when they grow up
6. Every child has the right to an education
commensurate with his abilities and to the
development of his skills for the improvement of his
capacity for service to himself and to his fellowmen
o In K12 during the senior year, the children
are given a chance to pick a branch of
education according to their abilities
7. Every child has the right to full opportunities for
safe and wholesome recreation and activities,
individual as well as social, for the wholesome use of
his leisure hours.
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social media where the leisure hours are usually spent in front of the
screen. Right now, this going to be a challenge because even if there
are many safe & wholesome recreational activities available right now
it may not just reach the children even those who can afford it. You
have the time or money to be able to enroll in such activities because
the problem is the competition is very addicting. Addiction to social
media, screen. How will you convince the child that it is actually his/her
right to be able to have a wholesome recreation & activities? To have
wholesome use of their leisure hours? How about those children who
are not fortunate enough to have this kind of opportunities?
8. Every child has the right to protection against
exploitation, improper influences, hazards, and other
conditions or circumstances prejudicial to his
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 physical, mental, emotional, social and moral
development.
Exploitation, improper influences, hazards dangers of social media,
pedophiles, bullies (either cyberbullies or real life bullies), drug
pushers (improper exposed children not just in drug substances but
also those that pollute their minds improperly). Tell them why they
should not expose themselves to these dangers. Every child has to
be protected.
9. Every child has the right to live in a community and a
society that can offer him an environment free from
pernicious influences and conducive to the
promotion of his health and the cultivation of his
desirable traits and attributes.
We as adults have the obligation to make the community & society
conducive to proper growth of a child. obligation of the police forces,
elected politicians, to keep the community safe for the children that
will not be harmful to their health. Not just safe from physical dangers
but also from every kind of pollution that may harm the health of our
children.
10. Every child has the right to the care, assistance, and
protection of the State, particularly when his parents
or guardians fail or are unable to provide him with his
fundamental needs for growth, development, and
improvement.
This emphasizes the duty of the state to take care of the child when
the parents / guardians are not able to do so. Social services, social
workers who forcibly remove children from their families when the
parents (e.g. addicts, mentally retarded) are not able to take care of
me that the duty of the State comes in, it
hsouuld be implemented for the sake of the child.
11. Every child has the right to an efficient and honest
government that will deepen his faith in democracy
and inspire him with the morality of the consulted
authorities both in their public and private lives.
This should been emphasized during the election / campaign that
the government officials that we elected have to project honesty &
efficiency in the way that they will govern the Philippines.
Government officials must also protect the democracy on the
country. They must also lived with moral lives both public & private.
12. Every child has the right to grow up as a free
individual, in an atmosphere of peace,
understanding, tolerance, and universal
brotherhood, and with the determination to contribute
his share in the building of a better world.
It is the right of a child to grow up as a free individual emphasizing the
obligation, duty of adults making sure that our democratic government
will not be handled carelessly by elected government officials. This
should be emphasized to the child so that
of expressing themselves, insecure of the peace / democracy of the
country. They should also be woke up with the education that they
must also contribute their share in building a better world.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHILD
ARTICLE 4: RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHILD
- Every child, regardless of the circumstances of his birth,
sex, religion, social status, political antecedents, and
other factors shall:
1. Strive to lead an upright and virtuous life in
accordance with the tenets of his religion, the
teachings of his elders and mentors, and the
biddings of a clean conscience
2. Love, respect and obey his parents, and
cooperate with them in the strengthening of the
family
3. Extend to his brothers and sisters his love,
thoughtfulness, and helpfulness and endeavor with
them to keep the family harmonious and united
4. Exert his utmost to develop his potentialities for
service particularly by undergoing a formal
TRANSCRIBERS: Stargazer, Luna, Kyot, ONTI, Unknown, MasculadoRice
EDITORS: Luna, Stargazer
education suited to his abilities, in order that he may
become an asset to himself and to society
5. Respect not only his elders but also the customs and
traditions of our people, the memory of our heroes,
the duly constituted authorities, the laws of our
country, and the principles, and the principles and
institution of democracy
6. Participate actively in civic affairs and in the
promotion of the general welfare, always bearing on
mind that it is the youth who will eventually be
called upon to discharge the responsibility of
s future; and
7. Help in the observance of individual human rights,
the strengthening of freedom everywhere, the
fostering of cooperation among nations in the
pursuit of their common aspirations for programs
and prosperity, and the furtherance of world peace.
ARTICLE 5: COMMENCEMENT OF CIVIL PERSONALITY
- The civil personality of the child shall commence from the
time of his conception, for all purposes favorable to him,
subject to the requirements of article 41 of the civil code.
ARTICLE 6: ABORTION
- Article 256. Intentional abortion. Any person who shall
intentionally cause an abortion shall suffer:
o The penalty of reclusion temporal, if he shall use
any violence upon the person of the pregnant
woman
o The penalty of prison mayor if, without using
violence, he shall act without the consent of the
woman
o The penalty of prison correctional in its medium
and maximum periods, if the woman shall have
consented
- Article 257. Unintentional abortion. The penalty of
prison correctional in its minimum and medium period
shall be imposed upon any person who shall cause an
abortion by violence, but unintentionally
- Article 258. Abortion practiced by the woman herself
of by her parents. The penalty of prison correctional in
its medium and maximum periods shall be imposed upon
a woman who shall practice abortion upon herself or shall
consent that any other person should do so
o Any woman who shall commit this offense to
conceal her dishonor, shall suffer the penalty of
prison correctional in its minimum and medium
periods
o If this crime be committed by the parents of the
pregnant woman or either of them, and they act
wit the consent of said woman for the purpose
of concealing her dishonor, the offenders shall
suffer the penalty of prison correctional in its
medium and maximum periods
- Article 259. Abortion practiced by a physician or
midwife and dispensing of abortives. The penalties
provided in Article 256 shall be imposed in its maximum
period, respectively, upon any physician or midwife who,
taking advantage of their scientific knowledge or skill,
shall cause an abortion or assist in causing the same
o Any pharmacist who, without the proper
prescription from a physician, shall dispense any
abortive shall suffer arresto mayor and a fine not
exceeding 1,000 pesos
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 ARTICLE 7: NON-DISCLOSURE OF BIRTH RECORDS
- birth shall be kept strictly
confidential and no information relating thereto shall be
issued except on the request of any of the following:
o The person himself, or any person
authorized by him
o His spouse, his parent or parents, his direct
descendants, or the guardian or institution
legally in-charge of him if he is a minor
o The court or proper public official whenever
absolutely necessary in administrative,
judicial or other official proceedings to
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or other circumstances surrounding his birth
o
- In all questions regarding the care, custody, education
and property of the child, his welfare shall be the
paramount consideration
ARTICLE 9: LEVELS OF GROWTH
- The child shall be given adequate care, assistance
and guidance through his various levels of growth,
from infancy to early and later childhood, to puberty
and adolescence, and when necessary even after he
shall have attained age 21
ARTICLE 10: PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT
- The child shall enjoy protection and shall be given
opportunities and facilities, by law and by other
means, to ensure and enable his fullest development
physically, mentally, emotionally, morally, spiritually,
and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in
conditions of freedom and dignity appropriate to the
corresponding developmental stage
ARTICLE 11: PROMOTION OF HEALTH
- The
adequate pre-natal and post-natal care both for him
and his mother. All appropriate measures shall
betaken to insure his normal total development
- It shall be the responsibility of the health, welfare, and
educational entities to assist the parents in looking after
the health of the child
THE RIGHTS OF THE HOSPITALIZED CHILD
Arci Cultura e Sviluppo (ARCS)
- Italian non-governmental organization
- Advocates the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
- Proposed to UPCM-PGH Department of Pediatrics
the idea of promoting and implementing the UNCRC
in the hospital setting
- Basis for this proposal: the possible non-
responsiveness to the needs and rights of
hospitalized children due to the established
procedures in the standard health care system
What Is United Nations Convention On The Rights
Of The Child (Uncrc)?
- This is the first legally binding international
instrument to incorporate the full range of human
rights-civil, cultural, economic, political and social
rights. In 1989, world leaders decided that children
needed a special convention just for them because
TRANSCRIBERS: Stargazer, Luna, Kyot, ONTI, Unknown, MasculadoRice
EDITORS: Luna, Stargazer
people under 18 years old often need special care
and protection that adults do not.
- It spells out the basic human rights that ALL children
everywhere have:
the right to survival
to develop to the fullest
to protection from harmful influences,
abuse and exploitation
to participate fully in family, cultural and
social life.
- What does this mean?
- Children are a vulnerable group of society--- how?
Ch
socioeconomic and cultural contexts
- The HOSPITAL is one of the settings where children
are especially vulnerable in ALL ASPECTS:
physical, social, mental, emotional, spiritual and
cultural
Article 24.1 of UNCRC:
- State Parties recognize the rights of the child to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
health and facilities for the treatment of the illness
and rehabilitation of health. State Parties shall strive
to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her rights
Who Are Children?
Article 1 of UNCRC:
- A child is any person under 18, unless national laws
recognize the age of majority earlier
However, State Parties declare their own
age of majority
- In the Philippines, R.A. 7610 (Special Protection of
Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act) defines:
children as persons below 18 yrs. of age, or
those over but are unable to fully take care
of themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty,
exploitation, or discrimination because of
physical mental 2 disability or condition
In the hospital setting,
- Make health services appropriate, accessible,
available and affordable to ensure and respect
Article 2 of UNRC:
- State Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set
forth in the present Convention to each child within
their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind,
, religion,
political, or other opinion, national ethnic or social
origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
Article 3 of UNRC
- In all actions concerning children, whether
undertaken by public or private social welfare
institutions, court of law, administrative authorities, or
legislative bodies, the best interest of the child shall
be a primary consideration.
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 - It encourages a conscious effort to make all
interventions be in the best interests of the child
Article 6 of UNRC
- State Parties recognize that every child has the
inherent right to life. State Parties shall ensure to the
maximum extent possible the survival and
development of the child.
- -
develop and not just to survive.
Article 12 of UNRC
- State Parties shall assure to the child who is capable
of forming his or her views the right to express those
views freely in all matters affecting the child, the
views of the child being given due weight in
accordance with the age and maturity of the child
- Caring Environment
-
contribute to matters concerning his or her situation
in all decision-making processes.
ENSURE THESE 4 CATEGORIES OF RIGHTS TO
DELIVER HOLISTIC, APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE
HEALTH CARE SERVICES:
1. Survival Rights
- In the hospital, survival is giving safe, efficacious,
and cost-effective medical care at the appropriate
time
- This includes the right to life, to adequate standard
living, to health and to parental care and support
2. Development Rights
- Refer to all those that the child needs in order to
become a mentally, spiritually, socially, and
emotionally healthy person.
- Include the right to freedom of association; to
appropriate information; to education; and to leisure,
recreation and cultural activities
3. Protection Rights
- Refer to all those that the child needs to be protected
from abuse, neglect, and exploitation in all forms,
whether physical, mental, emotional or sexual.
- Include the right to preservation of identity; to family
reunification; against illicit transfer and non-return; to
protection from abuse, neglect and sexual
exploitation
4. PARTICIPATION RIGHTS
- Refer to all those that the child needs to be able to
be one with a group and to be a part in decision-
making concerning his or her welfare and
development
- Include the right to name and nationality; to opinion;
to freedom of expression; to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion; and to protection of privacy
ENSURE THE SURVIVAL, DEVELOPMENT, PROTECTION
AND PARTICIPATION RIGHTS OF HOSPITALIZED
CHILDREN
Elements to consider to ensure their rights:
- Safe environment
- Caring environment
- Child-sensitive medical procedures and treatment
- Available information and open communication
- Accessible development opportunities
TRANSCRIBERS: Stargazer, Luna, Kyot, ONTI, Unknown, MasculadoRice
EDITORS: Luna, Stargazer
- Protection from further abuses and preservation of
dignity
-
Safe Environment
- Sanitation and hygiene; proper ventilation; and
lighting, safety equipment, and life-saving machines
- Safe waste management
Mobilize parents and guardians to implement
cleanliness, hygiene and order
- Implement a safety program
Safety measure, disaster management and
workplace management
Preventive maintenance and repair of
equipment
Hazard reporting
Accident investigation
- Wear or use child-friendly attire and accessories
- Allow parents to access their child especially at the
NICU and PICU
-
when procedures are being done
- Allow a dying child to access his or her family
whenever possible in a manner that will not disrupt
the care of other patients
Child-Sensitive Medical Procedures And Treatment
- Identify the medical needs of children with optimal
consultant supervision
- Cohort patients according to their illness or
conditions
- Do procedures with utmost care and consideration of
t
- Administer proper sedation and/or anesthesia in
cases of painful and invasive procedures
When a order has been issued,
provide the patient with comfort measures until the time
of demise. A DNR protocol must be followed:
- All forms of medical management must have been
thoroughly exhausted prior to calling the DNR order
- Give time and space for parents, guardians and
relatives to be with the child to accommodate the
grief and sense of loss
- A priest or person of faith must be summoned to the
bedside to give the final rites
- Safeguard the dignity of the child within his or her last
hours
- Observe proper decorum within the vicinity of the
patients and relatives
- If autopsy is required, discuss with the family only
after the child has expired
Available Information And Open Communication
- Introduce yourself, position and role in the
management during the first encounter with the
patient
- Take time to know the child personally
- Use simple language when explaining: nature of
illness, diagnostic tests and results, side effects of
medication, complications of procedures or surgery,
procedures that might be painful and invasive and
the referral procedure
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 - Entertain all questions regarding their health
condition with patience and compassion
- Secure written consent for procedures and treatment
that require it
- Inform the patients/parents/relatives about their
services and about hospital policies, rules and
regulations
- Conduct rounds on patients at least once a day
- Educate parents/guardians about the maintenance
of asepsis and hygiene
- and
- Make thoughtful discharge plans
Accessible Development Opportunities
- For the school personnel
- There should be services and programs for:
Ambulatory, chronically or non-chronically
ill, and hospitalized or non-hospitalized
children who cannot attend regular school
Both sexes of any belief, faith and religion;
socioeconomic status; and mental capacity
- Refer children with developmental delay to experts
- Actively recruit patients from pediatric wards by
regularly making rounds
- Provide personalized programs---> small class
placement, tutorial or bedside tutorial, review classes
for the PEPT, school placement, vocational courses
Protection From Further Abuse And Preservation
Of Dignity
- Conduct history-taking in a private manner
- At the OPD, explain the need for a complete history
and assure the patient of confidentiality EXCEPT:
When the patient is suicidal
When the patient plans to harm others
When sexual or physical abuse or other
forms of child maltreatment is present or
suspected
If the patient is engaging in behavior that is
potentially harmful to him/herself and others
If the diagnosis is life-threatening
- Do all the procedures in the privacy of the treatment
room except when medically contraindicated
- Continue to provide patients with privacy and dignity
in the conduct of
Resuscitation
Breast palpation, genital examination and
rectal examination
Counseling
- Under normal circumstances, problems should first
be processed with the patient
- When disclosure is not in conflict with the best
interest of the child, disclose to parents/guardian the
ONLY IF
It is life-threatening to the patient or to
others
Parental intervention is extremely
necessary
- Conduct medical discussions out of the hearing
range of the patient and family
- Release any information about the patient only to the
Patient ID bracelets/tags and bed labels
must not include the diagnosis; and
Telephone inquiries regarding the patient
must not be entertained, unless the caller is
parents
TRANSCRIBERS: Stargazer, Luna, Kyot, ONTI, Unknown, MasculadoRice
EDITORS: Luna, Stargazer
D SENSITIVITY:
- During rounds, health care personnel shall refer to
- In medical conferences, where people who are not
present, eserved
by observing the following:
The real name should not be revealed
If pictures of the patient must be shown,
identifying features and sensitive parts of
the body must be covered appropriately;
Patient must not be referred to as cases
is is the case of. ----
a ----
REQUIRE ETICAL REVIEW OF HEALTH RESEARCH
PROTOCOL INVOLVING CHILDREN
- Type of research
- Consent
- Risks and benefits
- Confidentiality
THE CHILD PROTECTION UNIT (CPU) PROVIDES
SERVICES TO ABUSED CHILDREN IN THE FOLLOWING
ORDER:
- Consent of parents/guardian for physical
examination and reporting to authority
- Intake (basic information) interview by a social
worker
- Child interview (details of incident) by a doctor and a
social worker
- Physical examination
- Safety plan
- Mental health screening by a child psychiatrist
- Home visit by a social worker
Significant V
- Entertain all questions and issues regarding the
- Involve the patient according to his or her evolving
capacities in decision making that affects his or her
wellness and illness
- Informed consent should be obtained
- Process the problems with the patient first, unless
when the problem is life-threatening to the patient or
others
-
decision-making
- Involve the child, depending on his or her
evolving capacity, in deciding issues of:
Painful and invasive procedures
Discontinuation of care
Health research
Availing services for development
Management of exceptional cases, e.g.,
conflict of religious belief vs. planned
medical intervention
- Consult the patient regarding his or her stand on any
media exposure should parents seek out assistance
through a public service program. To protect the
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