Hospitals deny turning away TV cameraman

JAKARTA (JP): Officials at the Patria Ikka and Harapan Kita hospitals yesterday denied that their institutions had refused to treat a TPI television cameraman before he died on Wednesday night.

They said the 40-year-old cameraman, Akmal Chaniago, was given the best treatment available at both hospitals. However, because of the limited medical equipment and blood supply available, they sent the stab victim to the Cipto Mangunkusumo central hospital, about eight kilometers from Akmal's home. The hospital is reputedly the best equipped in Jakarta.

The private television station cameraman Akmal Chaniago died on the way to Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital on Wednesday night after being stab in the chest outside his home in West Jakarta.

According to an official at Patria Ikka army hospital, which is about five minute drive from Akmal's home, the patient was in very critical condition and had to undergo immediate surgery.

"He lost a lot of blood because he was wounded in the heart," the official explained, saying that the hospital's chief would soon issue a more detailed explanation of the case to the press.

Since the hospital doesn't have the equipment to perform major surgery, the patient was sent to the Harapan Kita central cardiac hospital, about two kilometers from Akmal's house.

"We provided our ambulance and paramedics to take the patient to the emergency unit of Harapan Kita hospital," the official who requested anonymity said.

After examining the patient, Harapan Kita hospital doctors explained that they didn't have the equipment either and advised the paramedics to take the patient to Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital, he said.

According to the source, the patient died on the way to the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital.

Since Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital refused to issue a death certificate, the body was taken back to Patria Ikka hospital.

After reporting the death to the local police precinct, the body was then transported back to Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital, the official said.

"Because it was a criminal case the body had to undergo an autopsy," said the official, adding he regretted news reports stating that the hospital had refused to treat the patient.

"We have done our best," he said, adding the hospital didn't bill the patient's family, who live next to the hospital.

A source at the Harapan Kita central cardiac hospital's Emergency Unit told The Jakarta Post that although the institution had adequate medical equipment to treat heart attacks and conduct bypass surgery, it was not suitably equipped for major surgical operations.

"Heart attacks and heart injuries are different. A heart injury patient needs no bypass surgery but a complete surgical operation," said the source.

The source confirmed that the patient was in "cito" condition, which means he had to be operated upon without delay.

"It takes time to call a surgeon and provide the equipment, which we do not have. That is why we suggested sending the patient to Cipto Mangunkusumo central hospital," insisted the source. The source explained that Cipto is the only hospital in the city which can provide adequate medical treatment for both operations.

"We never refuse patients but our medical services are intended specifically for heart attack patients," said the source. (01)