RSPI responds to criticism

This letter is in response to an article titled Hospital reported for alleged malpractice published in The Jakarta Post on Aug. 14. The article made mention of our establishment, Rumah Sakit Pondok Indah. However, we believe there are some inaccuracies in the article that might lead to misperception among your readers and thus tarnish our hospital's reputation. Within this context we would like to clarify as follows: * First, we regret that no one from our hospital (RSPI) was contacted by Post journalists for statements, confirmation, or any kind of information relating to the article's content. Therefore, the last paragraph containing Dr. Mus Adia's statement in her capacity as RSPI director of medical services must have been acquired from other sources, not from RSPI, which has resulted in some information being inaccurate. * RSPI did invite Mrs. Masnur to come to RSPI in order to receive an explanation from our side, during which we proposed solutions to her complaint that she refused to accept. In addition, RSPI always meets with patients at their request in order to provide whatever support will resolve the matter best. * RSPI has always been highly responsive -- or even proactive when needed -- to any input, let alone complaints, as forwarded by our patients. In relation to both Mrs. Masnur and Mrs Debora, RSPI immediately carried out an internal review on whatever the implicated doctors had done in relation to both patients and found that our doctors' treatment of both was absolutely compliant with what is commonly accepted as normal medical and hospital practice. * Overall, RSPI is by all means looking forward to explaining to the public the actual course of events -- mainly the medical treatment that the two patients received from RSPI -- in order to clarify the matter before the public. Unfortunately, we are still prevented from doing so as the patients do not wish us to do so. * As a leading hospital, RSPI kindly urges all of its stakeholders, including the general public, to query directly with us any matter involving doubts, rumors, or even accusations about RSPI activities in order to get a clear understanding from first-hand sources within the hospital.

HERMANSYUR KARTOWISASTRO Executive Director RSPI Jakarta