Pelni hospital denies negligence caused rape
Pelni hospital denies negligence caused rape
JAKARTA (JP): The Pelni Hospital's management denied yesterday
the alleged rape of a 17-year-old patient last week was because
of its negligence.
Hospital spokesperson Ida Mahida acknowledged the hospital was
responsible for all its patients but said the rape could not be
helped.
"There are always people who want to steal chances to do
something wrong. It's impossible for a nurse to watch over a
patient all the time. We have lots of patients who are more
severely injured (than the rape victim). Besides, we found him
soon enough. It did not happen because of our negligence," Ida
said.
She cited violation of visiting hours as an example of people
taking a chance to do something wrong.
Visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and from 5 p.m. to
7 p.m. "However, there are always people who break the rules,"
she said.
The hospital employs 30 security officers for 24-hour security
around the hospital on Jl. KS. Tubun, Central Jakarta, she said.
The girl, who is 17 years old and not 15 as earlier reported,
was being treated for a respiratory problem. The alleged rapist
was visiting his ailing relative at the hospital.
The girl, identified as R, is mentally retarded.
According to the hospital, a nurse, identified as AD, found
the alleged rapist and the girl under her bed while she was
examining another patient in the same room. The nurse told the
man to leave.
"If we had been negligent, we would not have found them," Ida
said.
Yesterday, the girl looked in good condition and chatted with
other patients. Her father, who vowed to find a way to sue the
alleged rapist, was with her.
The girl's father, a resident of Tambun, Bekasi, 30 km east of
Jakarta, reported the case to the police last Friday.
Police arrested the alleged rapist, identified only as E, 22,
at his home in Cimanggis, Bogor, 30 km south of Jakarta.
Palmerah police precinct sources said detectives had
difficulties because the suspect denied raping the girl. He said
she consented to having sex.
Ida said if it was not rape it was still immoral. "It is
uncertain whether she was forced to have sex because there were
five patients (including her) in the room and there were no
screams for help or any sign of resistance from the girl."
A lawyer said yesterday the hospital must take responsibility
for the incident and urged police proceed with the case.
Lawyer Nursyahbani Katjasungkana said the hospital was
responsible for the patients' safety. "Everybody who suffers
losses, in any form, while being treated at a hospital are
entitled to demand compensation from the hospital. They have
every rights to sue the hospital."
Ida said the hospital was ready to face a lawsuit from the
patient or her parents. "The patient and the parents have the
rights to sue us. The hospital is ready."
The hospital had not yet appointed a lawyer to represent it in
the case. "The case is still under police investigation, just
wait for further progress," she said. (ste)