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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Indonesia Health Ministry Finds Alleged Doctor Work Schedule Tampering After Intern's Death

From Tempo · (9h ago) Indonesian Critical tone

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Indonesia's Ministry of Health has uncovered alleged manipulation of intern doctor work schedules following the death of intern Myta Aprilia Azmy.
  • Officials found evidence of a supervising doctor attempting to alter attendance records to conceal violations of work hour limits, which are set at 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week.
  • The ministry will conduct a medical audit to assess the hospital's professionalism and determine appropriate sanctions.

The Ministry of Health has uncovered a disturbing case of alleged work schedule manipulation in connection with the death of intern doctor Myta Aprilia Azmy at RSUD KH Daud Arif in Jambi. This incident highlights a critical issue within our medical training system: the potential for exploitation and the disregard of established work hour regulations. The evidence presented, including screenshots of text messages, suggests a deliberate attempt by a supervising doctor to falsify attendance records, likely to cover up violations of the 8-hour daily or 40-hour weekly work limit mandated by the Ministry of Health.

We found an attempt by the supervisor to manipulate the attendance schedule of internship participants.

— Rudi Supriatna Nata SaputraRudi, acting Inspector General of the Ministry of Health, stated this during a press conference in Jakarta, revealing the alleged manipulation of work schedules.

This situation is particularly concerning because it occurred while Dr. Azmy was hospitalized, indicating a potential pattern of negligence and a failure to prioritize the well-being of our young doctors. The alleged practice of leaving patient care solely to interns, especially during night shifts without adequate supervision from permanent staff, is a direct contradiction of the internship program's purpose. This lack of guidance poses a significant risk to patient safety and the professional development of these interns.

In that conversation, it was also mentioned that this change was made for the benefit of the Ministry of Health's examination, as if a chronology was created to make it look safe.

— Rudi Supriatna Nata SaputraRudi explained the content of the text messages, indicating a deliberate effort to falsify records for an official inquiry.

The Ministry's swift action to initiate a medical audit by the Professional Discipline Council is a crucial step. This audit, expected to conclude within a week, will be instrumental in evaluating the professionalism of RSUD KH Daud Arif and in deciding the necessary sanctions. As the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, stated, it is essential to await the audit's findings to ascertain the true status of the situation. This case underscores the importance of robust oversight and accountability within our healthcare institutions to ensure that our medical professionals are trained and supported in a safe and ethical environment.

Without guidance, there is a risk of errors in patient care in the emergency department.

— Rudi Supriatna Nata SaputraRudi highlighted the dangers of interns handling patient care without proper supervision from experienced doctors.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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