"If malpractice is discovered, then they should be punished. Law is not only applied to intentions and negligence can also be considered as criminal," said Indra, a Member of the House of Representatives Commission IX.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The professional class of doctors do not possess any impunities if found guilty of negligence and malpractice towards patients and which leads to a trial in a court of law, a legislator said on Wednesday.

"We must see Doctor Ayus case as objectively as we can, with solidarity on one side, and the malpractice allegations still being posed by the other side. Law enforcement has to be done if the doctor is found guilty," said Indra, a Member of the House of Representatives Commission IX.

Indra further stated that if Doctor Ayu was sure that she had done everything according to procedure, it was better to submit new and logical evidence (Novum).

The doctors community must ensure that being a doctor is continued to be considered a noble profession and that patients rights are protected, the legislator added.

"If malpractice is discovered, then they should be punished. Law is not only applied to intentions and negligence can also be considered as criminal," he said.

There are no professions that are immune to the laws of the land and any intended or unintended omissions should be made accountable under law.

Indra noted that he understood that the mass demonstrations staged by doctors on Wednesday were a form of solidarity in response to the fear of the doctors profession being criminalized, and that doctors were demanding legal certainty and security while carrying out their medical practices.

"For that they must ensure that there are no aggrieved patients during a medical treatment in hospitals," he said.

Doctor Ayu Sasiary Prawani and Physicians Hendry Simanjuntak were arrested by the Manado District Attorneys team at their work place, which had resulted in a 10-month jail term for an alleged malpractice in a labor case in 2010.

The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) had called for a show of solidarity and had held a rally on Wednesday as a form of protest against the criminalization of the profession in reference to Doctor Ayus case.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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