KUALA LUMPUR: A witness told the Sessions Court here today that a medical practitioner had to be registered with the Malaysia Medical Academy and with experience before he or she could be allowed to anaesthetize a patient.
Head of the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Department at Sungai Buloh Hospital, Dr Lim Wee Leong, 59, said besides having to be supervised by a specialist anesthetist, the medical practitioner was also required to observe procedures and to have the necessary equipment.
“Normally, anaesthetic is applied (on patient) in the surgery room which is fully equipped with the necessary equipment, but if it is given outside the surgery room, the medical practitioner also has to provide similar equipment,” he said when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Saiful Hazmi Mohd Saad.
Dr Lim was testifying in the fourth day trial of a a dental centre, Imperial Dental Specialist Centre Sdn Bhd, in connection with the death of Datuk Syed Alman Zain Syed Alwi during a dental treatment at the centre on June 1 last year.
In the case of dental treatment, he said a registered medical practitioner should give local anesthetic to reduce the patient’s pain.
“It is important for a medical practitioner to check on the patient’s (medical) history and to record them before given the anesthesia,”” he said.
On Aug 12 last year, the company represented by company director Dr Wong Yenn Ling, claimed trial to nine charges in connection with Syed Alman Zain’s death.
Dr Wong, as the licence-holder, was charged with, among others, failing to ensure that Dr Ting Teck Chin, who administered anaesthesia to Syed Alman Zain, had the qualification to do so.
The company is also accused of failing to ensure that the individuals it engaged to perform orthopantomogram, anaesthesia and IV sedation on Syed Alman Zain had the necessary qualifications.
It is also accused of failing to put in place life-saving measures by not providing oxygen as a basic emergency care service as well as failing to submit to University Malaya Medical Centre, a copy of all of Syed Alman Zain’s medical records when he was transferred there.
The company is also charged with failing to keep and maintain a staff register record, adhere to medicine labelling regulations and take adequate measures to protect its professional healthcare and environment staff from biological hazards.
The offences were allegedly committed at the dental specialist centre located at Lot 62 & 64, Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, Brickfields here, between 6 pm and 9.05 pm, between May 26 and June 2.
Seven of the charges are under Section 31(4), 39(2), 40(4) and 117(2)(b)(i) of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, which provides for a fine of between RM30,000 and RM300,000, on conviction.
The two other charges are under Regulation 49(7) and 245(6) of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services (Private Hospitals and Other Private Healthcare Facilities) Regulations 2006, which carries a fine of up to RM10,000 or three months imprisonment or both, on conviction.
The dental centre is represented by lawyer P. Sreekant.
The hearing before judge Harmi Thamri Mohamad @ Shaharuddin continues on June 8. – Bernama