Hospital criticized for rejecting patient

Hospital criticized for rejecting patient

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (LBH) criticized Harapan Bunda hospital for rejecting an unemployed man who had suffered severe burns due to an explosion of a butane gas cylinder in a cigarette kiosk.

Warhadi, the victim, was rushed to the hospital located on Jl. Raya Bogor, Cijantung, East Jakarta, on Sunday. The hospital, however, reportedly rejected Warhadi because it was a private hospital. An ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver later took Warhadi to Pasar Rebo Public Hospital.

If the report is true, it is really ironic, Tubagus Haryo Karbyanto, head of LBH's urban division, said in a statement on Tuesday.

He criticized the hospital for being profit oriented and also for violating an article on the Criminal Code, which stipulates that anyone should lend a hand if somebody who is dying asks for help. The hospital has also violated the Consumer Law as it has discriminated against consumers. --JP