Try calls on doctors to uphold medical ethics
Try calls on doctors to uphold medical ethics
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno strongly urged
Indonesian doctors yesterday to abide by their code of ethics and
avoid possible malpractice as people are now more aware of their
rights.
Try said medical experts were required to understand and
implement their oaths, their religious and cultural values in
their daily practices and provide the best service for the
community.
"Therefore, I also appeal to the wives or husbands of doctors
to encourage their spouses not to violate the code of ethics,"
Try said during the opening of the 23rd congress of the
Indonesian Medical Association and the association of the
Indonesian doctors' wives at Merdeka Selatan Palace.
Try's warning was timely as public dissatisfaction and
complaints over the quality of health services are rising.
The recent arrest of at least 16 suspects, including two
obstetricians and gynecologists, and the owners of two clinics in
North Jakarta on suspicion of being involved in illegal abortion
has put physicians in an uneasy position.
Police decided to detain the doctors after the discovery of 11
fetuses and babies in Warakas, North Jakarta, last month.
The two doctors are identified as Lt. Col. Jaya Lelana and
Budiman, who worked at the Army Gatot Subroto Hospital and the
Tangerang General Hospital respectively.
During interrogation, Jaya reportedly admitted to inducing an
average of 10 abortions per day at the Fajar Pengharapan and
Amalia clinics in Central Jakarta.
"Although their final decision (on medical action) heavily
depends on their own conscience, the Indonesian Medical
Association is expected to enforce its professional code of
ethics more strictly," Try said.
During the meeting, the vice president was accompanied by
Minister of Health Sujudi and chairman of the association Azrul
Azwar.
Inhumane
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Sujudi condemned
abortion and described it as inhumane.
The minister said abortion should only be conducted in a very
critical medical condition and only under tight regulations.
"According to World Health Organization standards, an abortion
can only be conducted if the pregnancy is less than 18 weeks
gestation and Indonesia adopts the standard," Sujudi said.
Sujudi said that he had received a report from the association
of Indonesian obstetricians and gynecologists that about one
million abortions are conducted every year.
"I have heard the report... but an abortion cannot be decided
by a doctor and the patient alone, but by a team who declares
that medically an abortion has to be conducted as the mother's
life is in danger," said Sujudi, quoting the 1992 Health Law.
Azrul said his organization deplored abortion practices. But
he said it was not fair to put the blame solely on doctors.
"The problem is not so simple, because there are also changes
in values among people in society," Azrul said. (prb)