MCA: Probe incident on boy denied medical treatment in Johor

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has called on the Health Ministry to investigate over reports that a toddler was denied treatment at two government clinics and a hospital because his mother was deemed to be “inappropriately dressed”. 

Its vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (pix) urged the Ministry to take appropriate action, adding that the incident was clearly a case of medical neglect.

“These ‘Little Napoleons’ should take note of the Parliamentary reply by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Azalina Othman that Putrajaya does not enforce dress codes on members of the public visiting government departments,” said Chew, who is also MCA's social development committee chairman. 

Chew asked if a rape victim would be considered “inappropriately dressed” if she was sent to a clinic or hospital for treatment. 

She reminded medical practitioners that their primary task was to treat patients and help them recover, not finding fault in their dressing. 

“Uphold the Hippocratic Oath to treat all patients irrespective of how their attendants maybe attired, and be devoted towards healing and upholding ethical standards,” Chew said in a statement Friday. 

Last Saturday, a two-year old boy was taken to a Klinik 1Malaysia in Johor Baru for a cut on his finger by his mother but he was denied treatment as the woman's pants were considered “too short”. 

The mother then sent him to another Klinik 1Malaysia in Kulai and a nearby government hospital where she faced the same treatment.

She finally took her son to a private clinic.