Medical bill deliberation urged for public protection<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Physicians' Associations (IDI)
\ncalled on Sunday for immediate deliberation of the draft medical
\nact currently awaiting approval by the House of Representatives
\n(DPR), saying that people in the country badly need protection
\nfrom doctors' negligence.<\/p>\n
\"The law governing the medical profession concerns the
\ninterests of people, so it should be deliberated soon. I heard
\nthe House of Representatives has scheduled the deliberation to
\ntake place this year,\" IDI secretary-general Fahmi Idris told The
\nJakarta Post on Sunday during the final day of the association's
\ntwo-day meeting here.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the House's Commission VII for people's
\nwelfare, Ahmad Sanusi Tambunan, who was also present at the
\nmeeting, said the state secretary was still putting the final
\ntouches on the draft.<\/p>\n
Sanusi said the House legislators could exercise their
\ninitiative rights to begin deliberation of the draft.<\/p>\n
\"We need to start the discussion soon, because the draft
\ncovers many aspects, including the law on advocacy, medical
\nservices, medicines and hospital affairs,\" Sanusi, who is also an
\nIDI member, told the Post.<\/p>\n
Doctors participating in the meeting, held to discuss the
\nprofession's code of ethics, admitted the waning public trust in
\npractitioners.<\/p>\n
Fahmi deemed that, although malpractice or violations of the
\ncode of ethics by IDI members were punished, the public wants to
\nsee errant doctors brought to justice.<\/p>\n
\"We have demanded such a law over the last two years. Although
\nwe realize that the medical act will force doctors to take extra
\ncaution, even to breathe, we want to draw a firm line to
\nsafeguard this profession in the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Fahmi said the proposed medical act will mandate the
\nestablishment of an independent council, which will be comprised
\nof members of the public, as well as officials from the Ministry
\nof Health and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of National
\nEducation. They would be tasked with controlling the quality of
\nmedical services and physicians.<\/p>\n
\"Every five years or so, the council will test doctors to
\nensure that their knowledge of medical practices has advanced. It
\nwill also judge if a doctor has provided unnecessary medical
\ntreatment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the medical act will also institute an ad hoc
\ntribunal for the profession.<\/p>\n
Fahmi said that in other countries, a doctor who had violated
\ncertain points of the profession's code of ethics could be taken
\ndirectly to court. (bby)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/medical-bill-deliberation-urged-for-public-protection-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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