Place defibrillators in all major court complexes, say lawyers

 Their call follows the death of a litigant who suffered a cardiac arrest at a KL High Court courtroom.

An automated external defibrillator mounted on a wall at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.

PETALING JAYA:

Lawyers have called for all major court complexes to be equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and personnel trained for medical emergencies, following the death of a litigant at the Kuala Lumpur High Court last month.

Former Malaysian Bar president Salim Bashir said courts should place the safety of judges, court staff, lawyers and the public among their highest priorities.

“It is vital that court premises are equipped with well-stocked first-aid kits, and in larger courthouses, we should consider having defibrillators,” he told FMT.

Salim said law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said should consider making the installation of AEDs at major court complexes, which are high stress environments, a priority under the 2027 budget.

This follows an incident on July 29 in which a 63-year-old litigant collapsed in a Kuala Lumpur High Court courtroom while waiting for proceedings to begin.

FMT understands that lawyers at the scene tried to resuscitate the man but were unsuccessful.

An ambulance arrived later, but the man died on the way to hospital.

The incident raised questions over heart-related emergency preparedness at the Kuala Lumpur court complex, which is the largest in Malaysia and currently does not have a single AED.

AEDs are currently only available at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, which houses the Federal Court and Court of Appeal.

The devicess, costing from RM5,000 to RM20,000, are designed for use in public-access settings, and can be operated by non-medical personnel – the life-saving device also has automated voice instructions – to deliver an electric shock to revive a person suffering from cardiac arrest.

Medical experts have said the chances of survival are significantly higher, well over 50%, when cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and an AED are used promptly before emergency medical personnel arrive.

Lawyer A Srimurugan said simply installing the equipment would not be sufficient unless court personnel are properly trained to use it in rapid response to cardiac emergencies.

“Mounting equipment (the AED) on a wall is only half the battle. High-tech gear is useless if court personnel freeze during a crisis,” he said.

He said court staff should receive training in CPR and the use of AEDs or manual defibrillators.

Srimurugan also called for a standard emergency-response protocol to be displayed prominently in courtrooms and common areas.

“It should clearly state who calls 999, who contacts the ambulance, who alerts security, who clears access for paramedics and who takes charge of the situation,” he said.

He said a trained, coordinated response would prevent confusion during the crucial minutes where time is of the essence to avoid brain damage and organ failure before an ambulance arrives.

Lawyer Shaharudin Mohamed said the incident in the Kuala Lumpur High Court should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to establish a uniform emergency-response system at all court complexes, equipped with AEDs, first-aid supplies, trained personnel and clear procedures.

He said the Malaysian Bar, the Sabah Law Society, and the Advocates Association of Sarawak could also provide first-aid kits and periodically train lawyers in basic emergency response while a more comprehensive system is developed. - Mkini