Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Ravindran R Naidu said doctors are obliged to provide at least basic aid as a matter of medical ethics.
This is the case regardless of whether patients are local or foreign.
“Our duty is to save lives. Money should not be an issue.
“No hospital is supposed to turn away those in need of help,” he told FMT.
Ravindran was responding to reports that a 25-year-old Singaporean had died following a hit-and-run in Johor Bahru after the Sultanah Aminah Hospital there allegedly withheld treatment until family and friends paid cash up-front.
Singapore’s The Independent portal said Justinian Tan was denied even preliminary medical scans until cash payments were made.
After waiting five hours for treatment, Tan’s friends contacted the Singapore embassy which arranged for a private ambulance to bring Tan back to Singapore.
However, when the ambulance arrived at the Singapore General Hospital, doctors there said nothing could be done as too much time had elapsed.
In such cases, Ravindran said, the hospital must stabilise the patient before referring him or her to another hospital or specialist for further treatment.
He said the hospital could seek payment after the patient was out of danger.
When contacted, Johor health and environment committee chairman Ayob Rahmat said the matter was being investigated.
Man dies after JB hospital demands cash before treatment, claims Singapore portal