Hospital denies report on negligence

The Honoris Hospital in the Modern Land housing complex in Tangerang denied on Monday a report that the hospital turned away a 24-year-old attempted suicide, who later died of her injuries, because her family could not afford to make a down payment.

The hospital's marketing and public relations manager, Fenderia, said in a letter to The Jakarta Post the patient was never brought to the hospital and that the hospital never received a transfer recommendation letter for the patient.

Fenderia was referring to a report on Dec. 27, 2003, claiming the woman, who tried to hang herself on Dec. 24, should have been transferred to the Honoris Hospital from the Tangerang General Hospital.

The report said the woman's husband was forced to take his wife back to the Tangerang General Hospital because he could not afford the Rp 5 million (US$588) deposit required by the Honoris Hospital.

The woman died on Dec. 25 at the Tangerang General Hospital.

Fenderia said a person came to the hospital on Dec. 25 at 2 p.m. seeking information on the cost of treatment in the Intensive Care Unit, but he did not bring with him a patient.

The hospital said it did not know the identity of the man, who refused to tell the hospital his name.

Fenderia said Honoris Hospital treated all patients in emergency situations, regardless of their financial status, in accordance with the "life saving" procedures established by the hospital's management. -- JP