Police, IDI to sign MoU on probes

JAKARTA: Jakarta Police and the Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) are to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) containing guidelines for the investigation of malpractice complaints in the future.

"Hopefully, the guidelines will speed up police investigations into malpractice cases," city police detectives chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang said on Friday.

The guidelines will enable the police to launch an investigation without having to await a decision on the part of the IDI ethics' committee as to whether the doctors concerned violated procedures.

"In the future, whenever we receive a malpractice complaint, we will simply send a letter to the IDI and request it to provide us with the names of doctors who can serve as expert witnesses," Salempang said.

More than 20 malpractice cases have been reported to the city police this year. However, the police have yet to charge any suspects. -- JP