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)