Martha dies after negligence report

JAKARTA: After the family of Martha Manulang, 25, reported St. Carolus Hospital in Central Jakarta to the police over alleged negligence on Friday, the patient died in the afternoon.

Tempointeraktif.com reported on Saturday that the hospital management was ready to face the malpractice suit filed by the family.

"We will reveal the medical record of the patient only in the courtroom," spokesperson Endang said, adding that Martha had been hospitalized four times in St. Carolus.

Martha's family said that she had been treated at the hospital on Dec. 27, 2004 for inflammation of the throat. She was discharged on Jan. 31 and given a vitamin injection. The family said that red marks appeared on her skin where the nurse injected her and that she was covered in a rash the next day.

The doctors said on Feb. 5 that she probably had the Steven Johnson syndrome -- a hypersensitivity to drugs that can be fatal.

Martha's family said she had not been able to move for the past 20 days. -- JP