KOTA SAMARAHAN: Assistant Minister for Public Health, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil yesterday launched the 1st Malaysia – Borneo Medicolegal and Forensic Aspect of Clinical Practice Conference at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) here.
The three-day conference, which ends tomorrow, is attended by more than 200 medical practitioners.
According to Jerip, every medical practitioner will face certain clinical forensic cases that have medicolegal consequences and it is necessary to recognise such cases and act accordingly.
“Many practitioners are usually apprehensive in dealing with these cases because to them, such cases imply rough speaking police officials, inordinate hours in court, unrelenting defence counsels, so on and so forth.
“As medical practitioners, these kind of forensic cases must be dealt with according to the appropriate clinical practice guidelines and this three-day unique conference will help to expose the practitioners to some of the knowledge in these matters,” said Jerip in his speech.
He added because of the fear factor, some of the medical practitioners tried to avoid being involved in such cases or tried to get them done as soon as possible which showed their lack of understanding of the legal implications of any mistakes they might make.
Jerip pointed out that even if the manuals for such practice were not available, these cases should not pose any problems if they exercised proper caution and due care while dealing with them.
“Proper documentation, timely information, a methodical and thorough examination, including all relevant investigations and referrals are necessary to ensure that the provision of our expertise will assist the successful closure of such cases,” he stressed.
Jerip also hoped that all the participants would be able to apply the knowledge they gained at the conference in their clinical practice.
The conference at the Tun Abdul Salahuddin Islamic Centre (PITAS) in Unimas is jointly organised by the Medical Forensic Department and Medical Forensic Department Socio-Academic Club, Sarawak General Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Unimas.
Also present were Unimas’ Vice Chancellor (Academic and International), Prof Dr Wan Hashim Wan Ibrahim and Deputy Director (Medical) of the State Health Department, Dr Kamarudin Lajim.
