Always treat patients first , payment can come later

Star: PETALING JAYA: It is the duty of private hospitals to make every attempt to evaluate and stabilise a patient before asking for a deposit, said president of the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman.
“Private hospitals should make every attempt to do this. I can understand that there are difficulties at time but you cannot allow a very ill patient to go unattended.
“If the hospitals feel that they cannot continue the treatment, then arrangements should be made to transfer the patient safely to another hospital,” he said yesterday.
He was asked to comment on the report that student Khairul Anuar Salim, 17, who was stabbed, was not given treatment by a private hospital as he had no cash or credit card to make a deposit. The boy later died.
During the 10pm incident last Saturday, Khairul ticked off two men who teased a female friend of his.
The men approached Khairul and slashed him with a sickle before fleeing.
Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek had said on Wednesday that the private hospital was being investigated for allegedly failing to provide emergency treatment.
Dr Abu Bakar said this issue was not new and had been brought up in the past.
“What the ministry has directed is also what has been stated by the previous minister. If a patient comes in very sick, he should be attended to. This is our stand,” he added.
President of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin said saving lives should be the priority of any doctor.
“All doctors will treat first. In emergencies like this, saving lives comes first and there is no question of that.
“Maybe the procedures involved need to be overcome. The MMA fully supports the directive from the Health Minister."