Bone of contention

Specialists claim they were told to move after sex abuse case

Doctors working at the Klang Valley hospital where the orthopaedic department head was accused of sexual harassment may be facing transfer orders en masse, and are concerned that they may end up the victims in the case. The Health Minister, however, cautions against hearsay.

KUALA LUMPUR: A few specialists from a hospital in the Klang Valley are claiming top officials have informed them that staff members at the orthopaedic department whose department head (HoD) was accused of sexual harassment would be transferred out of the hospital for bringing charges against him.

Confusion has arisen because others have been told the decision to transfer staff members was put on hold.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told The Star that people should not listen to hearsay but wait for an official statement instead.

In July, The Star carried a front page report on house officers who alleged they had been sexually harassed by an orthopaedic HoD at a hospital in the Klang Valley.

In response to the story, Dr Dzulkefly asked victims to e-mail him directly, and a committee comprising representatives from both the Health and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministries was set up to look into the matter.

On Sept 2, Dr Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry was awaiting the final report from this independent investigation committee and revealed 38 victims had e-mailed or written to him.

Now, one specialist – who declined to be named – said he was shocked to be told last Thursday to expect his transfer letter in two weeks following an inquiry into the sexual harassment case.

The specialist said he and a few other specialists had received calls informing them that the current orthopaedic team – made up of 14 specialists, 25 medical officers (MOs) and 15 paramedics (nurses, medical assistants and administrative staff ) – would be disbanded and replaced with a new team.

The official claimed that the transfer order was decided at a meeting on Thursday in Putrajaya, he said.

“He told us we have been given the transfer order by the Health Ministry’s top ranking management officials, and that letters would follow through. He said this was a consequence of the sexual harassment charges against ‘your ex-head of department’.”

“Most of us are very upset. Colleagues and patients who have heard the news have questioned the transfer order, and if we were the sexual predator in question,” he said.

He said after the call, he called another official who confirmed the transfer order. Another specialist also received a confirmation via text message from a different source. However, one official said the transfer had been put on hold.

“Around the same time as this news, there was an emergency meeting held at a hospital to identify doctors who would volunteer to move to the hospital in question,” he said.

The specialist said it would be unjust for them to be punished as they were not involved in the HoD’s sexual harassment case, and did not know what occurred behind closed doors.

He also said not all staff members – including himself – were called to the inquiry.

He said this incident had demoralised many dedicated doctors who had sacrificed family time, spending long hours at the hospital.

Another specialist said some of them had already been verbally informed of their new posts – and when to report for duty – Sept 18 for specialists and Oct 1 for medical officers.

“We find this totally unacceptable. Transfers have to made with a valid reason and this unjustified wholesale transfer is shocking.

“Whenever we asked about the transfer (from the minister’s office and secretary of the independent inquiry committee), we were told it was to ‘dismantle the toxic environment’, and that we were ‘guilty by association’ and ‘inaction’, and it was ‘collateral damage’,” he said.

Many doctors are worried that their livelihoods would be affected if they have to move.

Some junior medical officers and postgraduate medical officers have research ongoing while others have professional examinations coming up, he said. Many specialists had settled down near the hospital, and have schoolgoing children and sick parents to care for.

A sudden change like this would surely disrupt their lives.

Another specialist said the ministry should hear out those affected if they were going to carry out the transfer.

Meanwhile, an elderly patient who wanted to be known only as A, is concerned that her follow-up treatments would be messed up and that she would have to travel far to see her doctor, whom she trusts.

“I depend on my working daughter who has to juggle her work hours to take me to hospital.

“I’m staying near the hospital and it is convenient for us now. I’m sure other patients have similar concerns,” she said.