SMS: Doctors reavealing HIV status of Matfuh Fauzi

Thu, 06/26/2008 10:33 AM  |  Reader's Forum

Your comments on doctors revealing the HIV status of Maftuh Fauzi, a university student who died at Pertamina Central Hospital after allegedly being beaten by police officers.

Doctors should never breach patient-doctor confidentiality unless ordered to do so by a judge.
TOM
Denpasar

I think it's against a doctor's ethical code, but the one who should be blamed are students who pushed the doctor to do it. PIKASA
Surabaya

It is not ethical for doctors to disclose patient's records to the public because, first, I think it violates the right of privacy. Second, the doctors have the right to remain silent, otherwise anything he or she says can be use against them in a court of law.

Last, it is unethical to disclose the true death of Maftuh Fauzi!
RUDY D. SALIM
Jakarta

Before Maftuh Fauzi's death, he was involved in a demonstration together with other students. The demonstration turned violent and the police arrested him for violating public order.

For reasons of illness, the police sent him to the hospital for further treatment. From the results of a blood check, the doctors found he had HIV.

Due to the differing views on the reasons of his death, of course, the doctors needed to announce his HIV status to avoid a public misunderstanding.
ABDUL RAHIM
Tangerang, Banten

It is definitely very unethical for the doctors at Pertamina Hospital to make such a public announcement. First, they are doctors who according to their oath are supposed to respect their patient's privacy.

Especially for HIV/AIDS patients where there's a universal agreement on VCT (Voluntary Consulting and Testing) to avoid stigmatization and discrimination. What the doctors did is against medical ethics and against human rights.

The Indonesian Doctors Association should reprimand them and the doctors should apologize to Maftuh Fauzi's family.
TUTI I. LOEKMAN SOETRISNO
Jakarta

It's unethical and it's crazy! Doctors must have evidence and prove it. Medicine is a noble profession. Don't interfere with politics. If we are always like this, why are we proud of democratization? The real condition is demoralization.
CORNELIS
Jakarta

It is not ethical at all to disclose a person's HIV status without his/her consent. In the case of Maftuh Fauzi -- if we believe what the doctors say -- the medical team should inform his immediate family first.

But even then I have doubts about the case. HIV-positive people do not die all of the sudden. Being HIV-positive and dying because of AIDS are separate matters. The medical team should know that, of course.
DANNY I. YATIM
Jakarta

The revelation of the HIV status of Maftuh Fauzi was a despicable act. What relevance does it have, anyway?
KEN
Denpasar

It is great mistake. How dare the doctors did that. Shame on you. Please print all names of the doctors involved.
ALI T.
Jakarta

I don't know who should be blamed, the police or the student. But I support Maftuh Fauji and other students, who expressed the aspirations of the people. But please do not use violence. For the doctors, they should act on their own behalf, not for others.
DEDE LESMANA ELO
Tangerang, Banten

Doctors are obliged to keep the secrets of their patients. It is not ethical to publicly announce anything about their patients without any agreement from the patients or members of their families.
FELIX NEUENSCHWANDER
Seminyak, Bali

I am a doctor. It is definitely unethical to disclose a patient's medical record publicly just for the sake of political issues. Such records can only be opened in a court of law, or by the patient's consent for insurance purposes, for example.

Doctor should not be too weak when dealing with political pressure. We should protect our patient's right to his privacy. Wasn't it what we've sworn to? The Hippocratic oath?
S. ISWAHYUDI
Surabaya

I believe the doctors were aware of their oath and that it is unethical for doctors to reveal a patient's status, but in this case they were forced by students to make the announcement. Imagine if you are in the doctors' position, being surrounded by dozens of angry students who insist to make announcement over their friend's cause of death. What would you do?
SUSAN
Jakarta

The doctors should be punished severely for announcing a case of HIV. This is terrible ethical code violation.
VIN LOM
Makassar

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.