Raghad files police report over ‘baseless claims’, says ready to take legal action against hospital
Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib, the wife of former Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, has lodged a police report over recent allegations that her husband had been ‘absconded’ from a private hospital here, saying she is prepared to take legal action against the hospital.
In refuting the allegations, she said a police report from the private hospital on Feb 4 was “demonstrably false and deeply concerning”.
“The false accusations have caused unnecessary stress and confusion. I have filed a police report to refute these baseless claims and protect Tun Taib’s privacy and right to choose his medical care,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Raghad said she is fully prepared to cooperate with the police in any investigation and will pursue legal action against the hospital if necessary.
She said Taib’s health and wellbeing are her utmost priority and that she would never undertake uninformed actions that could jeopardise his recovery.
According to her, Taib was not ‘absconded’ from the private hospital; rather, the doctor in
charge had given clearance for the former TYT’s discharge on Feb 3.
She said she had informed the doctor of Taib’s scheduled appointment with a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur and that the doctor had approved Taib’s discharge and deemed him fit for travel.
“(The doctor’s) referral le er (to the private hospital in Kuala Lumpur) further substantiates the legitimacy of the discharge and planned admission.
“The decision to bring Tun Taib home was based on informed consent and his right to opt for his best care. All the necessary discharge documents according to the hospital’s procedure had been signed and all relevant hospital personnel were aware of the discharge,” she said in the statement.
Raghad added that Taib, in the comfort of his own home, has 24-hour medical support, including staff nurses and scheduled doctor visits, necessary equipment, and medication for care and recuperation, while waiting admission to the private hospital in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, she said claims of voluntary removal of Taib’s medications by herself without alerting the hospital staff on duty were completely untrue.
According to her, her requests for help in removing medical devices were ignored by the hospital’s staff despite repeated calls for assistance.
She said the “poor treatment and inconsistent medical advice” are serious issues that needed to be looked into and investigated by the private hospital.
Raghad thus urged the public to disregard misleading reports and respect Taib’s right to privacy and informed medical decisions.
“My family will remain steadfast and united in these trying times. We kindly seek the public’s prayers for my husband Tun Taib’s health and wellbeing,” she said.