NEWS of incompetent doctors and botched surgeries is nothing new in the field of medicine but the story of a 14-year-old teenager impersonating a medical officer at Hospital Sultan Idris Shah (HSIS) Serdang to “help” assist in a surgery does raise some eyebrows.
Patients have many good reasons to be apprehensive when they are called to surgery. Their life very much depends on the hands of the surgeon, and safe to say, everyone wants a competent person to perform such a delicate procedure.
Therefore it is a cause for great alarm to find that the girl was able to breach the operating room. Apparently, the teen had used a fake identification card to carry out her impersonation of a HSIS staff member.
Her suspicious behaviour, however, quickly drew the attention of staff members who reported her to the management. She was then arrested and has since been remanded for two days.
According to Malay Mail, Sepang police chief superintendent Wan Kamarul Azran Wan Yusof said the girl’s size and stature were large compared to an average teenager her age.
No statement had been made about her intention, but trespassing and impersonation of a medical officer is a punishable offence.
For those underage but helpful souls looking to save lives by performing surgery, they will do well to note that the training to become a surgeon takes time and is very competitive. Not everyone who starts the process will finish.
According to the Royal College Of Surgeons Of England, it takes about 10 years to become a surgeon, and another six years to become a specialised surgeon.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) in a statement urged the authorities to tighten up its security system, in particular its identification of staff, to ensure no repeat of such incidents.
“Patient safety and privacy must remain the highest priority at all times,” said MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz.
The MMA further urged the hospital concerned to thoroughly investigate the matter to ascertain if the incident had in any way affected patient care.
Additionally, the 14 year old’s mental health should also be assessed as it is unusual for a 14 year old to behave in such a manner. – Aug 9, 2024
Main photo credit: Wikipedia
