MMA president appalled at doctor’s anti-LGBT remark

Dr Mohammad Namazie Ibrahim says those who did not get appropriate treatment or have been discriminated against could file a complaint.

MMA president Dr Mohammad Namazie Ibrahim says doctors must not be prejudiced. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has issued a stern reminder to all doctors that it was their duty to treat all patients, including members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, equally.

This came after a doctor had expressed disdain towards members of the community.

MMA president Dr Mohammad Namazie Ibrahim urged all patients, including from the LGBT community, to lodge a complaint with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) if they did not get appropriate treatment or have been discriminated against.

“As a doctor, we cannot be prejudiced. Any patient who comes to us must be treated equally regardless of their sexual orientation as stated in The Physician’s Pledge. If they come to us for treatment, as professionals, we should treat them professionally” he told FMT.

“Doctors may have their own personal opinion but when it comes to their profession, doctors should not allow their personal beliefs to overcome their professional duties. That should be the stand of any doctor.”

Namazie was responding to remarks by Dr Nur Ilyani Mohamed Nawawi in her Facebook post.

Nur Ilyani had taken Marina Mahathir to task for championing the rights of the LGBT community.

Among other things, she said if the LGBT community had rights, then she too had a right to live peacefully, free from “deviant lifestyles”. She suggested that Marina and others appeared to “promote” the LGBT lifestyle through their various media statements.

Nur Ilyani added that despite her stand on the LGBT community, she gave them the best treatment she could.

Her remarks earned her a dressing down from Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, professor and dean of medicine and infectious diseases at Universiti Malaya, who told her that doctors like her made the situation worse by deterring people from seeking help.

Adeeba, who chairs the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, also advised Nur Ilyani to read up more about the advances in treating HIV.

Expressing support for Adeeba’s statement, Namazie said: “This is sad. I am not even sure whether this (Nur Ilyani) is a real doctor or she is claiming to be one.”

The MMA president also stated that revealing any confidential information about a patient was a serious offence and doctors could be struck off the Malaysian Medical Council’s register of medical practitioners if they were found guilty of breaching the Code of Professional Conduct.

MAHSA University chairman Dr Ismail Merican, who is also the former health director-general, reminded doctors not to discriminate against their patients.  -FMT