Where is the promised compensation?

SRI AMAN: A labourer here whose wife died almost three years ago due to negligence by the Sri Aman hospital staff is yet to receive the compensation promised by the Health Ministry.

His wife Anna Kajan, 28, died in 2011.

Tomsom Rudi, who is now mulling legal action, expressed his intentions through Sarawak DAP vice chief, Leon Jimat Donald.

Jimat, in a press statement, said on September 20 last year, the External Investigative Committee had a meeting with Rudi and himself..

The committee among others consisted of Dr Teo Aik Howe, a Specialist in Emergency & Trauma (E&T), Penang Hospital, Dr Chan Hiang Chuan, a specialist in E&T Kuching Hospital, Dr Sharfudin Bin Noordin, Deputy Director, Medical Practices Division in the Health Ministry Malaysia, Dr Hazel Philip.

Rudi is demanding compensation from the hospital as his wife died at its A & E department allegedly due to negligence by the department’s staff.

Anna had arrived with Rudi at the Sri Aman Hospital A&E department from Lubok Antu after complaining about chest pain, but was allegedly ‘chased away’ and had to go to a polyclinic where they had to wait for two hours to meet a doctor, said the statement.

“When their turn came, the doctor quickly tried to treat her, having found out she was suffering from heart failure.

“They had to wait for the ambulance to bring her from the polyclinic (back) to the (Sri Aman hospital) A&E again to administer further treatment, but they were unable to save her, ” Jimat said in the statement.

Legal action

It added that during the said meeting, the External Investigative Committee had informed Tomsom that they had completed the investigation on the cause of Anna’s death.

“They found out there was indeed negligence on the part of the hospital staff and she had died of heart failure.

“The Committee is alleged to have submitted their report to the Health Ministry for further action and recommendation,” Jimat said.

He further added that “as there was no postmortem done on the late Anna Kajan, there is justification on the demands for compensation from Tomsom (Rudi); as had the hospital admitted and tried to save her the moment they arrived, she would still be alive today.

“Now because of this inefficiency and oversight by the Sri Aman Hospital A&E staff on that day, it had cost the lost of a life”, Jimat said.

He also said Rudi, who has a daughter aged eight from his marriage with Anna, was currently seriously mulling legal action against the ministry.

“Now it is close to 3 years since the tragedy happened and after many meetings with the officers in and outside of Sarawak, there is still no clear indication from the Health Ministry that compensation demands are forthcoming.

“Mr Tomsom (Rudi) now is seriously considering legal action considering the relevant departments has not acceded to his request’, added Jimat.