The doctor and the ambulance
20 days ago while operating, I was informed by my anaesthetist that a mishap occured. An ambulance from Seremban Hospital on its way to Selayang Hospital had one of its tyre burst sending the ambulance with its 6 occupants into a ravine. 3 newspaper reported the incident in a small column mentioning that all 6 occpants were treated as outpatients and discharged. The truth - The driver was admitted for observation suffering from cerebral concussion. The patient arrived to Selayang Hospital and an elective surgery was set for him (urgency?). The nurse had some cerebral injury with liver and spleen injuries for which she was inubated and treated conservatively in ICU and later recovered. The worst,a lady doctor, houseman 2 months into her service, married was brought in with GCS 3/15 with severe head injury and bilateral multiple rib fractures and bilateral haemopneumothorax. She was also found to have a lax anus which suggested that she probably had cervical spine injury. If not mistaken, she was later found to be a primid in her early pregnancy. The other 2 occupants - not known.
Guess what? It took the newspaper 4 days to publish the accident. The doctor passed away recently and again the papers took another 4 - 5 days to publish the outcome. In between, the Minister and DG promised compensation and presence of insurance coverage for doctors accompanying patients in any transport. An inquiry was promised. A compensation was also promised.
Outcome? Well the lady housman passed away on day 19 post trauma in Serdang Hospital. No compensation was given as she is not confirmed in service. MMA gave a cheque for RM10 000/=
as a form of sympathy. Many unresolved issue, nobody seems to question and address these issues.
Problem: to be confirmed one will have to work for at least a year and have successfully completed their kursus induksi. Therefore, most of them who are not confirmed are all houseman and some junior MO. These are the people who will end up accompanying patients. And they are not covered. It is different for the nurses and MA or attentdents, as most of them are already confirmed in service thus the ex-gratia scheme comes into act if anything do happen to them.
Other issues: 1.maintenance of the ambulance and credibility of the drivers.
2. When does a doctor accompany a patient — this case was totally unnecessary for any doctors to accompany.
3. Can a doctor exercise his right to refuse to accompany patient since he is not covered? Or does he do it for the patient and country even if the government could not care less for their doctors!
4. When a police officer goes down in the line of duty or when two paratroopers collide among themselves, their fate and condition is alerted in the news for public knowledge. But when a doctor goes done in “the service of mankind”, why hush it and do we condone it?
Many senior doctors feel sad for her and many junior doctors are worried about their safety. Immediate family members and spouse and children are all worried and sympathetic. But where is our voice? What has the government and MMA have to say? What do our fellow doctors say?
As for me I have brought my disgust and opinions up directly to the President of MMA but wonder whether it fell on deaf ears.
My condolences to the spouse and parents of Dr Nor Baizura.
September 28th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Is this how the MOH treats the doctors who serve selflessly in its ranks?
September 28th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
I suppose so. Sad isn’t it.
September 28th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
I have been following the news reports closely (The Star) from Aussieland. Never thought some details of news was not reported and did not know she was pregnant!? Never knew this news was printed days later! Hush up?
Why isnt there any fuss kicked over your side? You- Drs should be united
and voice this out strongly without fear or favour. Well, this is Malaysia after all!
Why am I not the least surprised? I am truly angered by this incident!
She was a new Dr, a new wife about to start a family with her beloved man. In this God forsaken country, Drs have never been appreciated! These are Drs that work in the govt service.
Isn’t there a clause or something that states that these HOs should never accompany patients in ambulances or did HOs knew that clause and went on anyway? Can’t the “powers that be” be held responsible and taken to justice? Her immediate boss/ bosses? the govt?
Yo, you Drs out there leave the country and come here for a better life!
The country has gone to the dogs and have already dug a grave for themselves. The country will never improve if rakyat are not treated fairly. The rakyats’ life have no value! It is a case of people having ‘cables’ with the people in high places. Only then you survive. Small farts like us will never go far in Malaysia!
Drs you have got to do something! Most importantly here is to be united and brave. The Dr who died was ‘your kind’ Fight for justice otherwise more like her will perish.
September 28th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
Thanks for visiting.
Well, everybody wants to take care of their seat.
There must be a system otherwise it would end up the specialist will need to follow patients — then who will manage the ill patients in the ward and operating theatre.
But if everybody leaves who then will there be for the rakyat who are in real need.
Like every other assosciation, the members can never unite some afraid some too busy some just dont care. So who is to be blamed — my thoughts — every single person– the public - for not enquiring, the family - for keeping quiet, the medical fraternity - for not standing up and the leaders - for being selfish.
We have forgotten — history dictates — the power is within the people and not the leaders. Why isn’t it obvious in other countries — people are vocal and know their rights and demand for it.
Maybe, it is because we are Asians, the quiet, the respectful and the humble — all good but there must be a limit.
A humble thought!!