"I admit I was wrong in not taking my medicines, but it was wrong for the male doctor to shout at me, call me a pig and say I am stupid," Hamid Salleh, 66, of Tasek Gelugor on mainland Penang, said today.
"My medicines ran out before scheduled, but the doctor did not have to call me names," the senior citizen told a press conference at the Penang Golf Resort in Bertam, which was organised by the Umno assemblypersons.
Hamid ( right ), who suffers heart disease, hypertension and a thyroid problem, was visibly upset as he spoke.
He said he went to see the doctor in Kepala Batas in June and was "shocked" that the doctor treated him as such, adding that he could have punched to doctor, but he restrained himself.
"We hope doctors will never scold their patients like this. We respect them and they should respect us," said Hamid, who was a farmer but is now jobless.
Norzawani Zakaria (
left
), 28, said she went to see a doctor in Kepala Batas on May 29 when she experienced "bad headaches, vomiting and blurred vision".
"But the female doctor who saw me said it was normal for a pregnant woman to experience such things and gave me Panadol. I know it was not normal and I refused to take the medicine," Norzawani said.
"I argued with the doctor and told her to admit me, but she did not so I went to a private clinic," added Norzawani, who said she was about five months pregnant then.
"I found out that my blood pressure was 160/110 and the private doctor gave me a reference to go to the hospital again," said Norzawani who works with Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat (Kemas).
Subsequently, warded in intensive care
She said she was warded in the intensive care unit and given immediate treatment after being seen by three doctors at the government hospital.
She was found to be suffering from retina neuropathy and is still receiving treatment for this at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital.
"I am so upset with the doctor. Who will be responsible if anything happens to me?" asked Norzawani, who has two children.
Another woman, Shahidah Saad, 27, said she sought treatment at the Seberang Jaya Hospital on May 28, after she started having extreme pain on her right leg.
Shahidah (
right in photo
) had met with a motorcycle accident in November last year, in which her 36-year-old husband died, leaving her to care for her one-year-old child.
She said she felt that the metal plate in her leg was probably broken and needed to be replaced.
"But the doctor, a male, said I should go home and wait for three weeks and see if my leg still hurt," she lamented.
"How can I wait for three weeks? I was in terrible pain and I am a single mother and have to take care of my child," she complained.
Surgery done after assemblyperson intervened
Shahidah said she then lodged a complaint with Pinang Tunggal assemblyperson Roslan Saidin on her experience at the hospital, which she felt was "unfair".
After Roslan (
left
) intervened by contacting the hospital authorities, Shahidah had her surgery and is now without pain, though she still needs to use walking aid.
"I am surprised they felt no need for an operation but could do it after Roslan intervened. I am really disappointed with the doctor's attitude," said the jobless woman from Kepala Batas.
Homemaker Mariam Mansor was furious that she was chided by a doctor for taking her child, who was suffering from breathing problems, to the Kepala Batas Hospital emergency ward.
Mariam said she went there to seek treatment for her four-month-old son on June 21. He was already blue in the face, but they were sent away without any medication, she said.
"I was told to see a private doctor to get medicine for my child. Only after three visits to the hospital did I finally manage to see a doctor who treated my son," said the 22-year-old.
The four were among six complainants who Roslan said were referred to him after the May 5 general election.
Their complaints involved four doctors - five cases in Kepala Batas and one in Seberang Jaya, Roslan told the press conference.
Roslan said he has submitted a report on all the complaints to the state health department, where a probe is ongoing.
Roslan: Revelations proof I did not lie
"The revelations by these victims prove that I did not make up the allegations, or lie in the state assembly on July 3, when I raised the issue of racist doctors.
"I was just doing my job as a responsible BN assemblyperson who must pay attention to the issues and complaints brought up by the constituents," Roslan said.
"I do not want the same thing to happen to others, and I urge the doctors involved to do their job properly and with professionalism."
Roslan said he was not anti-Chinese in bringing up the issue as he, being a businessman, has many Chinese friends and clients.
Accompanying Roslan at the press conference were state opposition leader and Teluk Ayer Tawar assemblyperson Jahara Hamid and assemblypersons Mohamad Zin Ahmah (Penaga) and Shah Hedan Ayoob Husin Shah (Pulau Betong).
The press conference was called in response to the demand from state executive councillor on health Dr Afif Bahardin (
left
) to Roslan yesterday to
publicly apologise
to all doctors since he had no proof of his allegations.
Jahara said this was not a racial issue but one that involved the "delivery system of the hospitals, ethics and competency of doctors".
Meanwhile, Afif said when he made the statement, Roslan had yet to submit the report to the state Health Department.
He said the probe would be completed in a few days and thanked Roslan for submitting his report, "although it has been long overdue".
However, Roslan, upon hearing this, wanted Afif to apologise to the families of the victims or resign from his state exco post for saying that he (Roslan) had made up the stories.
"He is new and rash. He should be act more maturely and be more open to hearing complaints related to his portfolio," said Roslan.
Afif is Seberang Jaya assemblyperson and state PKR Youth vice-chief.
