Doctors Not Expected to Strike: IDI

Jakarta (Antara) - Chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) Zaenal Abidin has said he does not expect doctors to go on strike over the arrest of a doctor in Manado, North Sulawesi. "We do not expect doctors to strike, considering that a doctor's duty is akin to social service," said Zaenal in Jakarta on Monday. He added that if doctors went on strike, people would have problems accessing health services. "Who will save a victim of a car crash if the doctors are on strike?" Zaenal added. Several doctors had threatened to go on strike after the arrest of Dr. Dewa Ayu Sasiary Prawani SpOG by the North Sulawesi Prosecutor on November 8, 2013. Dr. Dewa Ayu Sasiary Prawani and two of her colleagues, Dr. Hendry Simanjuntak and Dr. Hendy Siagian, have been accused of medical malpractice. The three obstetricians were convicted in a malpractice lawsuit triggered by the death of Julia Frances Makatey (25) in 2010. The doctors had performed a Sectio Caesarea on Julia because of fetal distress. After several days, she was referred to community health centers (Puskesmas). Julia died soon after. Dr. Dewa Ayu was taken into custody based on a Supreme Court decision, No.365.K/Pid/2012 (dated September 18, 2012), that was final and binding. Zaenal believes the doctors are not guilty, because "they were attempting to save the patient's life," he said. He added that other doctors planned to express solidarity with the arrested doctors by wearing a black ribbon over three days starting November 19. "Some doctors also held prayers for an hour today," Zaenal added. The Indonesian Doctors Organization also said it rejected all forms of criminalization of doctors. (*)