House's Commission Summons IDI over Terawan's Dismissal Today

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) is set to hold a public hearing with the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) today, April 4, to talk about the permanent dismissal of former Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto from IDI. The meeting is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB). 

“The agenda has been confirmed so far. The IDI chairman is said to attend [the hearing],” said the House’s Commission IX Member Saleh Partaonan Daulay, Monday.

Saleh said the hearing will not only discuss Terawan's dismissal, but also the evaluation of IDI regarding its duties and functions. “Of course, the main theme is medical ethics,” said the PAN politician.

Commission IX also invited professors of the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Medicine (FKUI) Herkutanto and Budi Sampurna as well as a criminal law expert from Padjadjaran University Romli Atmasasmita. According to Saleh, these experts were invited to provide perspectives on cases of medical ethics.

The IDI’s Honorary Council for Medical Ethics (MKEK) decided to permanently expel Terawan due to serious ethical misconduct. The decision was read out at the 31st IDI Congress in Banda Aceh, Friday, March 25.

Terawan was thus barred from medical practice. A number of officials criticized IDI's decision and demanded the medical professional organization be evaluated. One of the critics was Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly.

Read: State Officials Call for IDI Evaluation after Dismissal of Terawan 

DEWI NURITA