Authorities stand by KLH medical report

Authorities stand by KLH medical report

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — Aghast with news of a leaked medical report related to a sodomy complaint, the Health Ministry will stand by the findings in the medical examination conducted on Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at the KL Hospital on June 28, director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said.

He said the KLH 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," Dr Ismail said in a statement released today.

He said the ministry was aware of a purported medical examination conducted by a doctor from a private hospital on Saiful, adding the hospital will be queried about the authenticity of the medical record and how it became public.

The Malaysia Today news portal was the first to publish the report, fanning a controversy as it states there was no medical evidence of sodomy on Saiful, who accused Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of sexual assault. The opposition leader denies the claim and said it is a political conspiracy, accusing his former male aide of being a government plant.

"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 and should not be circulated," Dr Ismail said.

He pointed out that 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.

Based on the medical report, Anwar has asked for investigations to be dropped and said the police should investigate those intent on framing him with sodomy, a charge which mirrors a similar chain of events in 1998 that cost him a chance to be prime minister. However, Saiful has reiterated his accusations and challenged Anwar to swear by the Quran that he did not commit sodomy.

kzso - why is anwar pushing and rushing to get the police to drop/stop the investigation? he should has asked the police to wrap up the case rather than drop/stop the investigation. if he is not in the wrong, he should and would have voluntarily 'mubahalah' in the 1st place. anyway this dr need to come out and clarify his report but he won't and can't do this due to the dr and patient confidentiality ethics. it can only be done in open court or do it openly (if there's no case) the question is how this report leaks out in the 1st place. who leaks it out? is this report conclusive? what if this report in not conclusive. any dr will tell that for sodomy cases, the dr who carry out the medical check-up must be done/carried out by forensic and/or surgical expert....