The duty of the health care provider
The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (RA 9262) sets out specific duties for any health care provider, including a nurse, who suspects abuse or is told of it. The provider must document the injuries and observations, give the woman a medical certificate free of charge, safeguard the records, and inform her of her rights, remedies, and available services. Recording her injuries and her account and telling her of her rights and services fulfills the nurse's duties under RA 9262.
Why documentation matters
Careful documentation creates an objective record that may later support a protection order or a criminal case. The nurse records the location, size, color, and shape of the bruises, the woman's own words about what happened, the date and time, and any other observations. The records are kept confidential and secure. Because the woman is pregnant, the nurse also notes the fetal heart rate and her obstetric status, since violence during pregnancy carries risks for both mother and baby.
Why the other options are wrong
Reporting the partner to the police at once, even against her wishes, is not listed as a duty of health care providers under the Act; the listed duties are documentation, the free medical certificate, safeguarding records, and informing her of rights and services. Issuing a medical certificate only when the police or a court asks for it is wrong because the law requires the provider to give it to the victim free of charge. Inviting the partner to a joint session so that the couple can settle the matter can put her at greater risk and is not a duty under the law. Watch out! Mediation or couple counseling is generally inappropriate in situations of violence, because the abuser holds power over the victim.
| Duty of the health care provider under RA 9262 |
|---|
| Document the injuries and observations |
| Give a free medical certificate |
| Safeguard the records |
| Inform her of her rights, remedies, and available services |
Supporting her safety
Beyond these legal duties, the nurse assesses her immediate safety, asks whether she has a safe place to go, and explains services such as the Barangay Protection Order, the Women and Children Protection Unit, and social welfare services. The nurse respects her decisions, does not blame her, and plans follow-up at her next prenatal visit.
Exam takeaway
Under RA 9262, health care providers document, give a free medical certificate, safeguard records, and inform the woman of her rights and services. Key point! The nurse empowers the woman to decide on reporting; the provider's role is documentation, certification, and information, not mediation.