IDI Flags Criminalisation of Doctors in Pangkalpinang Case

The Central Board of the Indonesian Medical Association (PB IDI) has highlighted the criminal prosecution of Dr Ratna Setia Asih, who is facing a 4.6-year prison sentence for alleged negligence resulting in the death of a patient named Aldo Ramdani during treatment at Depati Hamzah Regional General Hospital in Pangkalpinang. IDI considers this a form of criminalisation of the medical profession. PB IDI argues that the expert witness used by the public prosecutor was inappropriate, as they did not meet the criteria under medical law, namely possessing equivalent competence, having comparable experience and length of service, working in a regional general hospital of the same type, and operating under similar conditions of time and place. PB IDI Chairman Slamet Budiarto stated that if Dr Ratna is found guilty and sentenced, it will affect medical services across Indonesia, raising concerns that doctors may refuse on-call consultations outside working hours, ultimately harming the public and patients. “Efforts at guidance and the application of administrative or other sanctions must take precedence over criminal sanctions. IDI hopes Dr Ratna will be acquitted of the criminal charges,” Slamet said on Thursday (18/6). The Medical Disciplinary Council (MDP) advised caution in providing recommendations to law enforcement to prevent the criminalisation of doctors. It stressed prioritising professional disciplinary hearings for alleged violations that cause patient harm, and that MDP recommendations should only be issued in cases of criminal medical acts. The council also called for coordination with the Medical Ethics Honour Council (MKEK) before conducting disciplinary hearings. It insisted that expert witnesses must meet the criteria of equivalent competence, comparable experience, working in the same type of healthcare facility, and under similar time and place conditions. Law enforcement and prosecutors were urged not to use MDP recommendations as the sole evidence to criminalise doctors. The MDP further recommended that the Minister of Health establish an MDP Supervisory Board to ensure fair decisions and provide legal protection for doctors providing on-call consultations outside working hours across Indonesia. IDI appealed to the public to understand that medical services represent a doctor’s best effort based on medical science and do not guarantee results or a cure.