SUNGAI PETANI: The Health Ministry is investigating an alleged case of negligence involving an assistant medical officer with the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital (HSAH), resulting in the death of a man who sought emergency treatment last Sunday.
In expressing its regret over the incident, HSAH management said it views the matter seriously, while stressing that it would not compromise any element of negligence among its medical staff.
"We view this matter seriously and an investigation has been launched to ascertain whether the claims are true or otherwise.
"The Health Ministry wishes to extend condolences to the family of the deceased and truly regret the incident.
"The hospital management has started the probe on Dec 7, 2023 and rest assured that each complaint will be investigated in a transparent manner based on the stipulated procedure.
"The findings of the investigation will be conveyed to the family or next of kin to protect the secrecy of information," HSAH management said in a statement today.
It said the ministry vowed that it would not compromise if there was any element of negligence when the patient was receiving treatment at the hospital.
"It is the Health Ministry's priority to always ensure the patient's safety and that the services rendered to the patient are administered in accordance with a standard that has been set without neglecting the patient's rights," added HSAH management.
The statement is in response to claims by the family of a 51-year-old patient Chandran Subramaniam, that the deceased was given the wrong medication when he sought treatment at the HSAH emergency ward on Dec 3.
The incident was highlighted by United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai) leader, David Marshel in a Facebook posting.
In the posting, David said Chandran was taken to the HSAH about 12.45am last Sunday by a neighbour after suffering from breathing difficulty and chest pain.
He said an assistant medical officer at the hospital's emergency ward who attended to Chandran carried out an ECG (electrocardiogram) test on the patient.
"The assistant medical officer has diagnosed him of gastritis and prescribed him with a gastritis medication, before telling him to wait for his turn for further inspection.
"Chandran's child who arrived later tried to seek immediate attention from the medical officer as the patient was in critical condition but was ignored and told to wait for his turn.
"After being made to wait until 4.30am the patient was not treated and was still considered as having gastritis. The medical officer did not bother," claimed David in the posting.
He added that at about 6am, Chandran's condition was getting more critical and he was rushed to the emergency ward's red zone.
"A CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) was performed on him but at 6.31am the doctor who attended to him, informed his child that Chandran has died," he said.
The former DAP leader added that Chandran's child has lodged a police report calling for the authorities to investigate the incident but was told to take a legal action against the hospital.
"A life is lost just like that despite arriving at the hospital six hours before dying. The Madani government speaks proudly that it will bring about changes but all are empty promises.
"Billions (of ringgit) in the budget but still failed to save a father who is just 51-year-old. The most disheartening fact is that a medical officer could not tell the difference between gastritis and heart ailment," he said.