Hospital defends treatment

NST: Two contradictory explanations have emerged for the alleged delay that may have contributed to the death of driving instructor K. Murale at the Selangor Medical Centre on Wednesday.
The hospital today claimed Murale’s wife, K. Nalini, 35, offered the intensive care unit an ATM card to pay the RM3,500 deposit, which it declined.
Nalini, an inventory controller, had said she gave her credit card, which was rejected because of insufficient credit.
"I know the difference between an ATM card and a credit card," she said, adding that the available amount on her credit card was RM1,800.
The issue over which card was offered will be resolved when her bank replies to her request to confirm that the credit card was swiped at the hospital after she arrived at 3.10am.
Murale, 39, died while being wheeled into the ICU about an hour after arriving at the hospital following a heart attack.
Nalini lodged a police report at the Shah Alam district police headquarters hours after her husband’s death claiming the delay had led to his death.
Hospital general manager Mohd Johar Ismail said Nalini presented her ATM card and that "we cannot use that for the deposit". He said there was a delay over the deposit but staff gave adequate treatment.
He said the medical officer attending to Murale had also contacted a cardiologist on the telephone for advice.
"The doctor was doing his job in stabilising him while the other staff were handling the deposit issue. Everyone was doing their part."
Johar, however, declined to specify the treatment given to Murale, citing doctor-patient confidentiality.
"All I can say is that he was stabilised in the emergency room but I can’t say what we did. It’s confidential and we will only release the details if the family writes in for it."
Asked if the hospital would be contacting the family to discuss their dissatisfaction, he said it would only be done if the management deemed it necessary.
Johar said Murale was conscious and talking to the doctor who attended to him.
"We did not move him to the intensive care unit immediately as we had equipment to treat him at the emergency unit."
On why Murale’s situation worsened after being stabilised, he said he would have to check the records before answering the question.
He said the hospital had conducted a preliminary investigation and a thorough investigation was under way. A mortality review committee would also be looking into the case.
Asked about the difference in time of death as recorded on the body label and the death certificate, he said he could not comment on the matter.
The time of death is stated as 4.50am on the label and 5am on the certificate.
Nalini said Murale’s medical insurance card was rejected for some reason. She said her pleas for her husband to be sent to the ICU fell on deaf ears.
Murale, a father of two children aged 11 and 12, was only admitted after a brother-in-law paid the deposit about 4.30am.