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)