The Medan police headquarters has deployed an investigative team over reports that four patients at Pringadi Hospital died during a blackout Monday.
"I have assigned the team to find facts on what exactly caused the patients' deaths," the police chief Imam Margono told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
The patients were Veri Kavri, 19, a traffic accident victim with a serious head injury; O. M. Pangaribuan, 82, who had lung cancer; Herber Lumbantobing, 73, who had an abnormal heart beat; and baby Duriati, who had pneumonia.
Imam said they would look into each patient's medical records.
He added if the findings showed the blackout contributed to the deaths, the police would question the related institution.
The hospital management confirmed the arrival of police personnel but insisted the agenda was that they met the hospital principal and examined the case site.
Susyanto, the hospital spokesperson, said they had explained to the investigative team that the deaths were not connected to the blackout.
"The four patients died from their diseases. It's coincidental that they died at that time," he told the Post.
Susyanto admitted as the medical apparatus mostly depended on electricity, the cutoff had caused panic.
"The medical team tried to save the patients but the medical aid that was given manually did not help. The cutoff disrupted their treatment, but did not cause their deaths."
Blackouts have been frequent in North Sumatra in the past few months, although a new electricity plant at Labuan Angin in Sibolga began operation early this year.
Raidir Sigalingging, an official of the State Electricity Company (PLN), said they prioritized supplying public premises like hospitals.
"But if the electricity capacity does not suffice, it will lead to a blackout."
