PETALING JAYA: All patients, regardless of race, religion or dressing should have access to medical treatment, says health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
“All healthcare practitioners must uphold their ethics upon taking their oath. The Hippocratic oath taken by doctors and healthcare professionals includes their readiness to help a patient to the best of their capabilities,” she said in a Facebook post.
She was responding to a claim by a 21-year-old woman who said she was denied treatment at Kampar Hospital because she was wearing shorts.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the woman was apparently informed by a medical officer that she was dressed inappropriately and was asked to change to a pair of long pants instead, before being allowed entry into the emergency room.
Yesterday, the Perak state government said that it would investigate the allegations made by the patient.
Earlier today, Dr Kelvin Yii, MP for Bandar Kuching urged the ministry to issue a directive to bar hospital staff from refusing to treat patients because of their attire.
Meanwhile, Kampar Hospital director Dr Khairul Azha Azam said the medical officer involved in the incident had been reprimanded, adding that all staff had been told not to discriminate against patients based on the way they dressed.
He said the hospital had never issued any directive preventing patients from receiving treatment because of their attire.
“This is wrong and should not be allowed to happen again,” he said in a statement.
“All patients will be attended to in any situation, especially during emergencies.” - FMT
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