Klang hospital lodges report after doctor allegedly punched in Covid-19 ward

 

The management of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR), Klang, Selangor has lodged separate police reports over two recent incidents of violence linked to Covid-19 patients.

In the first incident that allegedly took place on June 6, the son of a Covid-19 patient who died at HTAR was accused of punching a doctor on duty.

Three days later, on June 9, a Covid-19 patient allegedly stabbed another patient in the ward with a knife.

Malaysiakini understands there was no history of mental illness but that the patient might have experienced "hallucinations" related to Covid-19, which were reported to happen to some individuals infected with the virus.

When contacted, Klang Selatan district police chief Shamsul Amar Ramli confirmed receiving the two reports from HTAR's management.

"I can confirm we received reports related to these cases," Amar told Malaysiakini.

He, however, declined to reveal further details.

Malaysiakini has contacted HTAR for a response on the cases.

This comes as an internal memo was issued by hospital director Dr Zulkarnain Mohd Rawi to all department heads, unit heads, and deputy directors, warning staff of disciplinary action if internal hospital matters are publicised.

It is unclear if the memo, dated June 8, is linked to the recent incidences of violence.

Pressure on healthcare workers

The incidents highlight pressure faced by healthcare workers in Covid-19 wards.

Violence against healthcare workers treating Covid-19 patients was previously reported in countries like Mexico and India when they were facing high case numbers.

In Hong Kong, at least four health centres were the targets of petrol bombs after the government listed them as designated clinics for Covid-19 treatment, said the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition.

Monitoring done by the coalition identified 412 pandemic-related attacks on healthcare workers between January and December 2020.

Locally, Malaysiakini learnt that healthcare workers in Covid-19 wards have had to endure verbal abuse from aggrieved family members of patients, who either want to see patients in the wards, or handle their remains when they die.

Both activities are restricted to avoid Covid-19 transmission.

Among others, it is learnt that desperate family members become verbally abusive when healthcare workers decline to use "miracle drug or remedies" their families had brought along.

As Malaysia continues to be under extended lockdown until June 28, the number of daily positive Covid-19 cases has remained at over 5,000.

More than 900 patients are currently being treated in intensive care units while more than 1,000 Covid-19 patients have died in the month of June alone. - Mkini