By Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin
A Medical Officer at the Serdang Hospital Cardiology department, Dr Thanenran Renganathan, was apprehended in a most deplorable manner by the Special Task Force on Organised Crime (Stafoc) unit, who were after suspected criminals in the vicinity of the food stall outside Serdang Hospital last Friday evening. (Mistaken identity )
Dressed in his Serdang Hospital tagged blue scrub suit and a stethoscope around his neck, he was allegedly tackled, kicked to the ground and handcuffed by 4-6 members of the masked elite police. Despite informing them that he was a doctor, identification card in his pocket, they allegedly continued to assault him. They only relented and released his handcuffs when a cardiothoracic surgeon at the scene vouched that Dr Thanenran was attached to the hospital.
The allegedly “inhumane treatment” of Dr Thanenran is antithesis to the culture of caring treatment within the medical profession. This situation is most unfortunate and I hope that the ongoing investigation would provide him “keadilan yang sewajarnya terhadap penganiyaan yang menimpa saya”.
What is even more disappointing was the nonchalant response from a Deputy- Director General of Health, who reportedly said “Take it as a learning experience”
One of your doctors is allegedly attacked by a member of the elite police force (who by the way we would have expected to have their targets marked), is assaulted, handcuffed and taken to the police station and all a top brass of the Ministry of Health has to say is, “take it as a learning experience”?
What do you do when armed men in ski masks run at you – you run! How would you even know they are the police force? And would you actually believe reports that the doctor allegedly fought against 4-6 members of the armed elite police force?
The lack of “heart and gut defense” of junior doctors under one’s wings is most regrettable. I would urge the Deputy Director-General to exhibit more empathy, understanding and compassion towards Dr Thanenran specifically and generally to all doctors faced with a similar predicament.
Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin is a Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist, Damansara Specialist Hospital.
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