Hospital denies malpractice in embassy bombing death

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The death of Mutia Rahmani Amalia, 16, on Sunday has prompted the management of Medistra Hospital in South Jakarta, where the girl underwent cranial surgery, to deny accusations of negligence.

Hospital director Susilawati Bolang said on Wednesday the hospital followed all the proper procedures in treating Mutia.

She said doctors closely observed Mutia's condition while she was treated at the hospital.

"The surgery to treat Mutia's fractured skull was carried out on Sept. 25 and it was successful," she said, adding that after the surgery Mutia's condition was much improved.

Medistra refused to be held accountable for Mutia's deteriorating condition two days after the surgery, saying the family insisted on taking the girl home despite doctors' urging that she be kept at the hospital.

Mutia was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 17 after being treated at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Central Jakarta for injuries she suffered in the Sept. 9 bombing outside the Australian Embassy.

The high school student sustained head and leg injuries when she was caught in the blast as she got off a minibus across from the embassy.

She died on Sunday at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore after falling into a coma.

Mutia's father, Rudi Gunadi, 43, vice principal at SMU 6 state high school, said on Wednesday he was disappointed in Medistra's treatment of his daughter.

"She was sent to the hospital with a fracture of her skull but she died of a malfunctioning liver and kidney."

"For two weeks her temperature fluctuated to as high as 40.6 degree Celsius," he said. "The doctors said she was suffering an internal infection, but they did not know exactly where."

"First the said it was paratyphoid, then a liver problem, later they said it was intro-bacterial and then they said it was malaria," he said. "My wife said, 'What? She wasn't in the jungle.'"

Rudi said Mutia insisted on going home, but was taken back to Medistra three days later suffering from delirium and high fever.

The Australian government flew Mutia to Singapore for further treatment. Doctors there found the infection had spread to all of Mutia's internal organs, "and the source of the infection was Mutia's broken left ankle", Rudi said.

"But I am not planning to file a lawsuit against Medistra. I only want the management of the hospital to evaluate their performance. I don't want other people to have the same experience," he said.