Healthcare services: This file photo shows Prita Mulyasari embracing her sister after Tangerang District Court acquitted her of defamation charges filed by Omni International Hospital after she complained to her friends about the hospitals service via email. JP/Multa Fidrus
March 14, p. 1
Nine years ago, acting like a holy priest, the doctor tenderly told my wife who was immediately paralyzed after he had operated on her spine, “As a doctor I have done my best, but the decision totally depends on Almighty God.” We were shocked to realize that she could no longer move her body after the surgery. She walked into the operating theater confidently and left totally powerless.
Until now I still cannot find the right way to confirm the doctor’s claim that it was God’s decision that my wife be paralyzed at the doctor’s hands. As a devout Christian, the doctor did not forget to cite Jesus to support his claims. To Indonesian doctors, please do not take me to court for sharing my experience with Sunday Post readers. I just want to share the pain. And to this newspaper’s readers, I shared my experience with you in the hope that perhaps you can learn something from it (hopefully such an experience will never happen to any of you). (By Kornelius Purba)
Your comments:
I was moved by your story and I personally empathize with you and your suffering wife. I am a Catholic by religion, and am just wondering how religious beliefs are tied to medical practices in Indonesia.
Personally, when consulting a doctor I usually trust a practitioner not on his religious belief, but on
his medical expertise. I look and pray for divine help and guidance but I rely on the proficiency and capability of the general practitioner or surgeon.
Spine surgery is one of the most delicate and fragile surgical procedures, it needs a very knowledgeable, experienced, skilled and qualified surgeon — a mistake, blunder or slipup by the surgeon can be critical to the patient involved, just what happened to your wife.
The doctor or surgeon has to explicitly and openly discuss the matter with the patients about their chances and his qualifications and expertise as a medical practitioner. Patients should also do some research on the doctor. They may
also consult other doctors for a second opinion.
This way, the patient will have peace of mind before undergoing such a delicate medical procedure. By the way, do you have appropriate laws on medical malpractice in Indonesia? You can sue him for what he has done. I fervently hope your wife will be able to recover from her present condition and will be able to walk again someday. Meanwhile, I will be praying for her earliest
recovery.
Rudy B.
Manila
I know exactly how you feel and share your desperate feeling as well, Pak Purba. My mom was diagnosed with terrible fourth stage spinal cancer by doctors in Jakarta. They said my mom should undergo surgery followed by chemotherapy.
Fortunately, my family is among those who have lost faith in Indonesian doctors and hospitals, and soon resorted to a second opinion from Singapore. Based on their examination, they said my mom didn’t have cancer, but acute spinal tuberculosis.
After five hours of surgery and three months of intense treatment there, she can now walk again and
is currently planning to go to Helsinki to see her newly born grandchildren.
I couldn’t agree more when you said that Indonesian doctors were never wrong and quickly pointed their fingers at God for all their patients’ misery. It’s about a bad mentality and lack of professionalism as well as irresponsibility. My little brother is a doctor too. And I cross my fingers that he won’t become such a lame doctor.
A. Aron
Helsinki
Unfortunately, Indonesia is one the most dangerous places in the world to have to go into a hospital. Many never come out, and I have several friends who have been needlessly operated on twice, because it was the easiest way out, treatment-wise, for the doctor.
I have a list of horror stories regarding treatment and deaths pointing directly to incompetent doctors and related graft concerning money and care. But what’s the use of documenting them? Just have your plane ticket ready.
Jor Hyam
Bali
I sincerely feel it does not matter whether they are Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai or any other race. A doctor’s profession is to save lives and their conscience is clear. I think almost all doctors in the world will put religion aside when it comes to saving lives. Please have faith in them and do not blame them for your misfortune.
Haji Abdul Rashid Abu Bakar
Shah Alam, Malaysia
I was deeply moved by your heartrending description of what happened to your dear wife, and I sincerely sympathize with your wife and you for having had such a painful experience with doctors in Indonesia.
Having had plenty of experience with doctors in my time, including one with a director of a Bogor hospital who burst into tears when my father passed away, I can truthfully say that most of the doctors who I have ever met were kind, understanding, helpful and tactful, and did the best they knew how under the circumstances they encountered.
The doctor who operated on Mrs. Purba could, indeed, have been much more tactful in breaking the unwelcome news of your wife having become paralyzed to you and to your wife. But perhaps, on that very day, the doctor was extremely tired and previously to meeting you had had one, or even a few, unpleasant experiences.
We do not know what really happened at the time, but the doctor was only human, and I would like to believe that he himself felt very bad about what had happened, but made a less-than-tactful excuse and comment, which for you and your wife was, of course, unbearable to hear.
Tami Koestomo
Bogor, West Java
Some of the Indonesian doctors are too arrogant. They patronize their patients. After graduating from university, they think they are the best in the “world”. Sure, it’s a great achievement to be able to graduate as a medical doctor and became a specialist.
You have to sue them. Malpractice in Indonesia is rampant. People seek medical care in Singapore, but the Singaporean doctors also love money above anything else. But at least they offer a better service.
It’s sad when, after their graduation, they totally renege on their Hippocratic Oath! They act like the greedy fat cats from Wall Street. Hopefully, a new breed of Indonesian doctors will emerge who has a conscience.
Hadi Gunadi
Depok, West Java
I am truly on your side and really sorry for the pain your wife has undergone. But what you have written is true and it implicates Indonesia doctors.
There is no consumer protection in Indonesia whether it be a medical case, about education or even, say, parking a car. Every business unit turns out to be a law unto itself and puts its own terms and conditions. The most surprising thing is that the government is not concerned; they simply pass the laws, but do not implement them.
Rajesh
Jakarta
