Swift action needed to end harassment in hospitals, says Idris

MELAKA: The Melaka government has suggested that audio recordings be made during check-ups at hospitals and clinics to curb harassment.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said a review of hospital medical procedures was urgently needed as there were cases of doctors being harassed by patients and vice versa.

“A mechanism should be intro- duced to prevent recurrence of such cases. A voice recorder could provide important evidence if disputes arise.

“The state will push for more stringent procedures to be introduced by the Health Ministry to prevent such incidents,” he said.

Idris was commenting on a case where a 49-year-old patient allegedly molested a woman dentist at a government clinic in Merlimau.

The patient claimed he was in pain during a tooth extraction and grabbed the 23-year-old doctor out of “motherly affection”.

The dentist lodged a report on Dec 13.

Police are probing the case under Section 354 of the Penal Code for using criminal force with intent to outrage a person’s modesty.

This was not the only recent incident.

On Sept 3, a 26-year-old doctor claimed she was molested by a 37-year-old male patient at the emergency unit of the Melaka Hospital.

In August last year, another patient allegedly flashed a woman doctor at the same hospital.

The 48-year-old, who was seeking treatment for thigh injuries, reportedly exposed himself, grabbed the doctor’s hand and asked her to check his private parts.

The 26-year-old doctor immediately left the ward.

On April 3 last year, a 24-year-old male patient claimed that a doctor at a private hospital here offered to provide oral sex as part of treatment for diarrhoea.