Tuesday July 29, 2008 MYT 3:42:05 PM

'Health Ministry will stand by KL Hospital report'

KUALA LUMPUR: Health Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the ministry would stand by the findings of the medical examination conducted on Saiful Bukhairi Azlan at the KL Hospital on June 28.

He said the examination was done according to standard operating procedures with strict adherence to medical ethics, confidentiality and professionalism.

"The details of the findings have not and will not be disclosed to any unauthorised personnel or agency. No one should speculate or draw conclusions or make assumptions as to the result of the medical examination," he said in a statement Tuesday.

Dr Ismail said the ministry was aware of the circulation of a purported medical examination record conducted by a certain doctor from a private clinic on Saiful, adding that the hospital would be contacted to get further details, especially with regards to the authenticity of the medical record and how it had been made public.

"We will enquire whether there are protocols and procedures in place for the release of a medical record in that particular institution.

"In any case, regardless of the authenticity of the record, it should be regarded as confidential as should not be circulated," he said.

Dr Ismail said action could be taken under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 on any private hospital that failed to institute measures to ensure and maintain the confidentiality of patients' medical records.

He said the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) was aghast with the circulation of such a record of a patient in the Internet by a registered medical practitioner.

He said the ministry would like to remind every medical practitioner that he or she owed legal, ethical and moral duty of confidentiality towards his or her patient and at no time must any information related to the patient in the course of professional interactions without the consent of the parties concerned.

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