Police slow on malpractice cases<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Another malpractice report was filed with the police on Friday,
\nbringing the number of such cases reported to city police to four
\nin the past two months.<\/p>\n
City police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara said his
\nofficers were working hard on the cases, but none had been
\ncompleted nor any suspects named.<\/p>\n
\"Investigation into malpractice takes time. We also have to be
\ncareful in investigating such cases because we largely depend on
\ninformation from witnesses,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mugiharto filed a police report against two doctors at Pondok
\nGede Haj Hospital in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Mugiharto, who was accompanied by Legal Aid Institute for
\nHealth (LBHK) founder Iskandar Sitorus, told the press after
\nfiling the report that his five-year-old daughter, Dwi Latifah,
\nwas admitted to the hospital for dengue fever and appendicitis.<\/p>\n
He said the doctor treating the dengue fever said that an
\nappendectomy could not be performed until Latifah's blood count
\nhad returned to normal. However, the doctor treating Latifah for
\nher appendicitis insisted on operating on her on March 10,
\nclaiming her blood count had already returned to normal.<\/p>\n
Seven days after the surgery, Latifah died. Mugiharto said the
\ndoctor who operated on her claimed that a blood clot had caused
\nher death. He presumed the blood clot had been caused by a
\nprevious bump on the head.<\/p>\n
Mugiharto accused the doctor who performed the appendectomy of
\ncausing his daughter's death.<\/p>\n
The hospital would not comment when contacted on Friday
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
Early this month, Herly Hutauruk filed a complaint against
\nBudi Lestari Hospital in Bekasi for alleged malpractice in
\ndelivering her son, Jeremia Sitorus. She claimed that her son
\nsuffered a brain hemorrhage due to medical negligence.<\/p>\n
In late April, similar allegations were made against Cipto
\nMangunkusumo General Hospital and YPK Maternity Hospital, both in
\nCentral Jakarta, by Mantep and Doddy Sudrajat.<\/p>\n
All the hospitals and doctors were accused of violating
\nArticle 359 of the Criminal Code on death caused by negligence
\nand Article 360 on permanent handicap caused by negligence.<\/p>\n
The Criminal Code defines malpractice as a practice performed
\nby an unlicensed person.<\/p>\n
Health critics have urged the government to redefine
\nmalpractice in the medical practice bill, which is being
\ndeliberated by the House of Representatives. The bill has also
\nbeen criticized as insufficient protection for patients.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Sitorus said the LBHK would file four other
\nmalpractice reports next week.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-slow-on-malpractice-cases-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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