House asked to draft law on presidential health evaluation
House asked to draft law on presidential health evaluation
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Doctor Association (IDI) has
asked the House of Representatives and People's Consultative
Assembly to draft a law on presidency that would regulate the
basic requirements for presidential candidates, including their
state of health.
In a written statement received by Antara news agency on
Sunday, the association's Honor Board of Medical Ethics said the
proposal was issued following a letter submitted by four doctors
on March 27 to House Speaker Akbar Tandjung and the House
factions, explaining the ailing condition of President
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.
The doctors who wrote to the House were neurologist and
psychiatrist Suharko Kasran, psychiatrist Sunaryo,
ophthalmologist Rahman R. Saman and general practitioner
Hadiwitarto.
In their seven-page letter titled "Gus Dur, An Analysis into
His Nervous, Mental and Ophthalmologic System", the doctors said
that based on their indirect observation through national and
international media, the President suffers from frontal lobe
organic brain syndrome and permanent vision disorder, which is
worsening and incurable.
Also included in the letter was a recommendation that due to
his illness, Abdurrahman should leave his demanding duties.
The team of presidential doctors later denied the report,
saying that it was nonsense as they had never examined the
President.
In regard to the issue, the association's board conducted a
three-day meeting from April 23 to April 25 for additional input
from medical experts, the team of presidential doctors as well as
the four doctors mentioned.
Based on their inquiry, the board said an ethical and valid
medical examination must follow the standard operating procedure
established by the association.
"The conclusion based on this observation is not a perfect
medical procedure," the board said in the statement, signed by
chairwoman Ratna S. Samil.
The board also said in an effort to eradicate suspicion over
the health of government officials, they should be examined by an
authorized team of physicians.
Meanwhile, IDI deputy chairman Farid Anfasa Moeloek said the
association had never formally discussed the proposal.
"I don't know anything about it. I think it's only a
suggestion or thought. But we never discussed it together," he
told The Jakarta Post by phone. (hdn)