Why Do Diagnoses by Indonesian Doctors and Penang, Malaysia Doctors Differ? Here Is IDI's Answer

The difference in diagnosis results between Indonesian doctors and Malaysian doctors regarding suspected appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix) in an influencer has drawn a response from the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI).

According to IDI, the difference does not mean that any doctor made an error, because a patient’s medical record must be viewed as a whole.

“A patient’s condition can change, examinations can be carried out at different times, examination modalities also differ, and clinical interpretation is highly dependent on the patient’s overall condition at the time of examination,” said Dr Cashtry Meher, Head of Public Relations at the IDI Executive Board, in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Previously, an influencer compared the differing appendicitis diagnosis results between Indonesian doctors and doctors in Penang, Malaysia. Media reports suggested that there was allegedly a black campaign to promote a hospital in Penang.

According to Cashtry, the healthiest approach is not to pit Indonesian doctors against foreign doctors, but to ascertain the patient’s actual medical condition based on a complete medical record.