Ministry must probe ambulance fiasco — Wong
KUCHING: The family of the senior citizen who died in an ambulance which did not proceed straight to the hospital deserves an explanation by the Ministry of Health, says Democratic Action Party ( DAP) Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei.
Lai Kim, 66, was pronounced dead in the ambulance transporting him to Serian Hospital as the ambulance diverted its route to a petrol staion to refuel where a lorry knocked into it.
The assemblyman visited the victim’s wife Jong Kim Fah, 62, and son Lai Yen Li, 20, at Siburan near hear yesterday.
Wong commented that there were elements of human error in the fiasco as the medical officer and the driver involved in the transportation of the deceased did not follow the proper Standard Operation Procedure (SOP).
“I am questioning the conduct of the medical officers (MOs) and the driver from Siburan Clinic as to why is there a need to fuel in diesel to the ambulance van during the transportation of the deceased patient that was in dire need of medical attention,” he added.
The son of the deceased, Lai Yen Li said his family has no intention of taking legal action against any party involved in the tragedy.
He hoped that the ministry involved as well as the clinic would not repeat the same mistake again.
Recently, the state Health Department issued a press statement assuring members of the public that they will conduct a thorough investigation of the case and arrange a meeting with the family of the deceased.
“We care about the problems faced by the family members and will ensure that the investigations will be done according to the existing procedures,” the statement added.