Ministry: Assunta not at fault

Star: PETALING JAYA: Assunta Hospital fulfilled its legal obligation of providing emergency treatment to Yek Yow Ngan, who died in a car accident after being allegedly pursued by a gang of armed men.
In a statement here yesterday, the Health Ministry's medical practice division said facts showed that the hospital had taken all necessary steps in arranging proper transfer and referral of the patient to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).
The division conducted an investigation following allegations that it refused to provide emergency treatment to Yek unless a deposit was paid.
Division director Dr Mohd Khairi Yakub met up with the hospital management and interviewed the attending medical officer and the two staff nurses on duty at that time.
Yek's son Yeong Hon had claimed that Assunta Hospital had demanded a RM10,000 deposit from him before his mother could be treated.
However, the statement said Yeong Hon was informed by hospital of the cost of further treatment only after emergency treatment was rendered.
“The patient, who was in critical condition, was brought in by her son at about 4.10am to 5am on Sunday and was immediately resuscitated by the medical officer and his staff,” the statement said.
It said the patient was revived at about 5am and her condition was stabilised before she was sent for a CT scan and chest X-rays to determine any internal injury.
The medical officer then decided that the patient needed further intensive treatment and had to be monitored at the intensive care unit.
The hospital then informed Yeong Hon of the cost of further treatment.
“However, the hospital was told that the patient's son could not afford the cost and was requested to transfer the patient to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre or HKL,” the statement said.
The medical officer then made the necessary arrangements by paging the two hospitals.
At 5.45am, the patient was transferred by ambulance, accompanied by Yeong Hon, a medical officer and a staff nurse.
On Wednesday, Yeong Hon called for justice and hoped that truth behind Yek's death would be revealed.