JakartaPost-Aug 21
The Health Ministry plans to form an independent body authorized to investigate claims of medical malpractice in an effort to better protect health professionals from criminalization. The ministry’s health law expert staffer Sundoyo said in future, law enforcement officers must first consult the independent malpractice board on receiving any reports of alleged medical malpractice from members of the public. “The police cannot investigate the case immediately, they need to report the case to the independent board first,” he said in a statement on Sunday. “The board will then investigate the report and determine whether the case can be prosecuted as a crime.” The Omnibus Law on Health passed last month also stipulates that alleged victims of medical malpractice must first obtain a letter from the independent body referring their claim for processing at a civil court. Sundoyo said the new mechanism aimed to reduce the risk of criminalization of medical or human errors by health professionals, especially during a state of emergency. The ministry’s expert Sundoyo, however, made assurances that the members of the planned independent malpractice board would consist of both health professionals as well as “public stakeholders” to maintain impartiality. The ministry is currently drafting a regulation on the malpractice board. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2023/08/21/health-ministry-to-set-up-independent-body-to-probe-malpractice-claims.html.
