Being a Doctor is a Risky Business

I read with interest a few letters to the editor today in the Star.

WE REFER to your report, “Dead doc’s family not eligible for compensation” (The Star, Sept 27).

The medical community is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Nobaizura Yahaya after 15 days in coma in the intensive care unit.

The young doctor was only a few months into her housemanship, and coming from a humble background she was her family’s hope for a better future.

Unfortunately this is not the first time a Government medical personnel died following a road traffic accident while in the course of duty.

Many of us in this field can easily recollect similar tragic stories involving individuals that we personally know.

Given Malaysia’s rate of road accidents, having to make frequent visits to peripheral clinics or sending patients to major referral centres in Kuala Lumpur can be very perilous.

Then there are young medical officers who contracted tuberculosis in the course of their work.

They have to undergo long periods of anti-TB treatment, suffer chronic ill-health and have their plans for postgraduate careers disrupted.

This is only going to get worse if the threat of the HIV pandemic becomes real.

The issue of insurance cover and compensation for Government medical personnel has been raised each time a tragic incident like this happens.

However, it is all too easy for the administrative bureaucracy to give the shrug of indifference as those unfortunate enough to suffer injury, death or chronic ill-health are voiceless, junior medical officers and staff nurses.

It is time we recognised that occupational hazards are not the monopoly of blue-collar workers who at least have the Social Security Organisation, National Institute of Safety and Health and the industrial courts to depend on.

In striving to upgrade and modernise our public service to become more efficient, caring and friendly, we urge the Government to seriously consider providing insurance cover and financial compensation to those at risk of injury and death in the course of serving the public.

Posthumous words of commendation and passing the hat around simply will not do. Our sincere condolences to the family of Dr Norbaizura.

DR MAZENI ALWI,
Chairman,
Muslim Professionals Forum,
Kuala Lumpur.

Government must look after all of its employees

I AM horrified to read that Dr Norbaizura Yahaya’s family will not be compensated for the accident that ultimately took her life, “Dead doc’s family not eligible for compensation” (The Star, Sept 27).

The excuse of “not having been confirmed in her post” is lame and unfair, especially when it was added in your report that confirmation can take up to two years (reflecting the inefficiency of the system).

The facts are she was a doctor, working for the Government and representing the Health Ministry in caring for her patients.

She was killed in an accident while carrying out her duty.

Having heard stories from my physician colleagues in Malaysia, I doubt very much she had the option to decline to be on that ambulance ride.

Perhaps there is some comfort in knowing that she died while caring for the sick.

Dr KTK,

Rochester, USA.

Source The Star