Hospitals deny turning away TV cameraman<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Officials at the Patria Ikka and Harapan Kita
\nhospitals yesterday denied that their institutions had refused to
\ntreat a TPI television cameraman before he died on Wednesday
\nnight.<\/p>\n
They said the 40-year-old cameraman, Akmal Chaniago, was given
\nthe best treatment available at both hospitals. However, because
\nof the limited medical equipment and blood supply available, they
\nsent the stab victim to the Cipto Mangunkusumo central hospital,
\nabout eight kilometers from Akmal's home. The hospital is
\nreputedly the best equipped in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The private television station cameraman Akmal Chaniago died
\non the way to Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital on Wednesday night
\nafter being stab in the chest outside his home in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
According to an official at Patria Ikka army hospital, which
\nis about five minute drive from Akmal's home, the patient was in
\nvery critical condition and had to undergo immediate surgery.<\/p>\n
\"He lost a lot of blood because he was wounded in the heart,\"
\nthe official explained, saying that the hospital's chief would
\nsoon issue a more detailed explanation of the case to the press.<\/p>\n
Since the hospital doesn't have the equipment to perform
\nmajor surgery, the patient was sent to the Harapan Kita central
\ncardiac hospital, about two kilometers from Akmal's house.<\/p>\n
\"We provided our ambulance and paramedics to take the patient
\nto the emergency unit of Harapan Kita hospital,\" the official who
\nrequested anonymity said.<\/p>\n
After examining the patient, Harapan Kita hospital doctors
\nexplained that they didn't have the equipment either and advised
\nthe paramedics to take the patient to Cipto Mangunkusumo
\nhospital, he said.<\/p>\n
According to the source, the patient died on the way to the
\nCipto Mangunkusumo hospital.<\/p>\n
Since Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital refused to issue a death
\ncertificate, the body was taken back to Patria Ikka hospital.<\/p>\n
After reporting the death to the local police precinct, the
\nbody was then transported back to Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital,
\nthe official said.<\/p>\n
\"Because it was a criminal case the body had to undergo an
\nautopsy,\" said the official, adding he regretted news reports
\nstating that the hospital had refused to treat the patient.<\/p>\n
\"We have done our best,\" he said, adding the hospital didn't
\nbill the patient's family, who live next to the hospital.<\/p>\n
A source at the Harapan Kita central cardiac hospital's
\nEmergency Unit told The Jakarta Post that although the
\ninstitution had adequate medical equipment to treat heart attacks
\nand conduct bypass surgery, it was not suitably equipped for
\nmajor surgical operations.<\/p>\n
\"Heart attacks and heart injuries are different. A heart
\ninjury patient needs no bypass surgery but a complete surgical
\noperation,\" said the source.<\/p>\n
The source confirmed that the patient was in \"cito\" condition,
\nwhich means he had to be operated upon without delay.<\/p>\n
\"It takes time to call a surgeon and provide the equipment,
\nwhich we do not have. That is why we suggested sending the
\npatient to Cipto Mangunkusumo central hospital,\" insisted the
\nsource. The source explained that Cipto is the only hospital in
\nthe city which can provide adequate medical treatment for both
\noperations.<\/p>\n
\"We never refuse patients but our medical services are
\nintended specifically for heart attack patients,\" said the
\nsource. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hospitals-deny-turning-away-tv-cameraman-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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