Medical bill deliberation urged for public protection

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Physicians' Associations (IDI) called on Sunday for immediate deliberation of the draft medical act currently awaiting approval by the House of Representatives (DPR), saying that people in the country badly need protection from doctors' negligence.

"The law governing the medical profession concerns the interests of people, so it should be deliberated soon. I heard the House of Representatives has scheduled the deliberation to take place this year," IDI secretary-general Fahmi Idris told The Jakarta Post on Sunday during the final day of the association's two-day meeting here.

Deputy chairman of the House's Commission VII for people's welfare, Ahmad Sanusi Tambunan, who was also present at the meeting, said the state secretary was still putting the final touches on the draft.

Sanusi said the House legislators could exercise their initiative rights to begin deliberation of the draft.

"We need to start the discussion soon, because the draft covers many aspects, including the law on advocacy, medical services, medicines and hospital affairs," Sanusi, who is also an IDI member, told the Post.

Doctors participating in the meeting, held to discuss the profession's code of ethics, admitted the waning public trust in practitioners.

Fahmi deemed that, although malpractice or violations of the code of ethics by IDI members were punished, the public wants to see errant doctors brought to justice.

"We have demanded such a law over the last two years. Although we realize that the medical act will force doctors to take extra caution, even to breathe, we want to draw a firm line to safeguard this profession in the future," he said.

Fahmi said the proposed medical act will mandate the establishment of an independent council, which will be comprised of members of the public, as well as officials from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of National Education. They would be tasked with controlling the quality of medical services and physicians.

"Every five years or so, the council will test doctors to ensure that their knowledge of medical practices has advanced. It will also judge if a doctor has provided unnecessary medical treatment," he said.

He added that the medical act will also institute an ad hoc tribunal for the profession.

Fahmi said that in other countries, a doctor who had violated certain points of the profession's code of ethics could be taken directly to court. (bby)