Before cosmetic procedure: Mandatory pregnancy test urged

CEBU, Philippines – Senator Loren Legarda is pushing for a mandatory pregnancy testing for all women of childbearing age before undergoing cosmetic procedures that might be harmful to both mother and child.

Legarda, in a statement furnished to The FREEMAN, said that harmful cosmetic procedures include those that require the administration of general anesthesia and other types of anesthesia that may be detrimental to the well-being of pregnant women and their unborn children.

Legarda filed Senate Bill No. 1398 which makes it an obligation of the cosmetic provider to disclose the available choices on a cosmetic procedure by informing the patient of the precise and potential risks it poses to pregnant women.

She said the cosmetic provider should advise the patient in simple lay terms or in a manner that the patient can respond with an informed or intelligent consent to such procedure.

A fine of up to P1 Million is recommended for violators.

In a separate bill, the lady senator also proposed the establishment of breast care centers in every region nationwide to ensure that all Filipino women will have access to this specialized health service in order to increase breast cancer prevention and awareness.

Legarda's Senate Bill 1393 also mandates the coordination of regional and local education officials to guarantee that female high school students of both private and public schools are well informed about the disease to increase the rates of awareness, prevention and early detection.

Legarda, whose mother, Bessie Bautista Legarda had succumbed to breast cancer, said that the Philippines has the highest breast cancer rate in Asia, wherein 50 per 100,000 Filipinas are diagnosed with breast cancer

Legarda said most Filipino women diagnosed with breast cancer are between the ages of 35 and 50 years old. (FREEMAN)