Hospital reported for alleged malpractice

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta Police have questioned two women following their complaints of criminal negligence against doctors at the Pondok Indah Hospital in South Jakarta.

The police questioned Masnur Surjadi, a 35-year-old mother of two, on Friday for three hours.

"I showed the police some evidence including the X-ray results and the extracted kidney stones and a catheter which had been inside my body," she said.

The police also questioned Debora Lidya, 28, on Thursday.

The two filed their complaints on Aug. 5 and were accompanied by lawyers from the Mawar Saron Legal Aid Institute.

"We met coincidentally at the legal aid office," Masnur said.

Both women accused doctors at the hospital for violating Article 360 of the Criminal Code on negligence causing illness or permanent injuries.

Masnur said she found from X-ray results in August there had been a catheter inserted inside her body between her kidney and her bladder for seven years. She also had some small kidney stones inside her bladder.

"I took the X-ray because I had suffered much pain in my waist. I went to Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, to have the X-ray," she said.

A week later, she had the catheter and stones removed from her body in the Graha Medika Hospital, West Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Debora suffered infections after delivering her second child at the Pondok Indah Hospital in October 2003.

She said she consulted her gynecologist at the hospital who told her that she might have some of the placenta left in her womb.

A week later, she got the more of the placenta removed but she still suffered from the same symptoms.

She consulted with the doctor again, but the doctor said her womb was clean.

Since the pain was getting more serious, she sought further opinions at Bunda Maternity Hospital, Bintaro International Hospital and Asih Hospital.

Medical reports from the three hospitals said there was still placenta left in her womb.

In December, she had the remaining placenta removed in Bunda hospital.

In response to Debora and Masnur's complaints, the Pondok Indah hospital management said the allegations against the hospital were still unproven.

"We have sent letters to both of the patients asking them to meet with us to clarify the matter. But they have not replied to our letters," said Mus Aida, the director of medical services at the hospital.