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[UPDATED] Bangi hospital denies 14-day deadline to settle lawsuit, explains seizure issue
[UPDATED] Bangi hospital denies 14-day deadline to settle lawsuit, explains seizure issue

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • New Straits Times

[UPDATED] Bangi hospital denies 14-day deadline to settle lawsuit, explains seizure issue

KUALA LUMPUR: Hospital Islam Az-Zahrah has denied that it must settle a RM8.32 million medical negligence suit within 14 days. This follows a writ of seizure and sale issued over the non-payment in the suit. The hospital said it would challenge the seizure process initiated by the plaintiff's lawyer due to errors in the process. This statement followed a New Straits Times report that the hospital had until July 23 to pay the sum before seized items would be auctioned. Hospital Islam Az-Zahrah said that the incident occurred under its former management, and that a new management is now running the hospital. It added that the previous management is currently working to settle the outstanding judgment sum and that there is an ongoing legal process. "We understand that the old management has paid a significant amount of money for this judgment. "We would like to make clear that this issue is solely an issue of outstanding debts and not a matter related to the daily operations of the hospital managed by the new management," it said in a statement published on Facebook today. Hospital Islam Az-Zahrah, which opened in 1997, said the suit stemmed from a 2003 incident when the facility was known as Pusat Rawatan Islam Az-Zahrah. The hospital said the case was only brought to court in 2018 by the complainant. According to its records, the mother gave birth to two children within nine months, with the first on June 14, 2002, and the second on Feb 26, 2003. It said that in the case of the second child, the mother came to the hospital when she was 26 weeks pregnant. The specialist who treated the mother performed the necessary professional treatment and, after careful consideration, referred her to Hospital Putrajaya. "The baby was born at Hospital Putrajaya. So, we would like to clarify that the baby was not born at this hospital," it said. The hospital also referred to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's comments on the issue, advising the hospital to transfer patients to other healthcare facilities. It said it has since contacted the ministry's Private Medical Practice Control Branch to clarify the situation. "Hospital Islam Az-Zahrah takes note of the news articles published by a local English newspaper. "This statement is made to clarify the situation and respond to allegations that have been circulating in the media, including social media," it said. It described the reports as "misreporting", which affected its reputation. It also denied claims about an area of the hospital being sealed off with security tape, adding that a photo used in a report was not of the hospital's closure and gave an incorrect impression to readers. Hospital Islam Az-Zahrah said its operations would continue as usual, and that it would continue to serve customers and the community by providing the best service. The seizure stems from a civil suit filed by the family of a premature baby girl who was born at 26 weeks' gestation on Feb 26, 2003. The child was later diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. According to court judgments, the High Court had on Sept 10, 2020, found the hospital liable for the baby girl's condition, a decision that was upheld by the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.

Bangi hospital denies 14-day deadline to settle lawsuit, explains seizure issue
Bangi hospital denies 14-day deadline to settle lawsuit, explains seizure issue

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • New Straits Times

Bangi hospital denies 14-day deadline to settle lawsuit, explains seizure issue

KUALA LUMPUR: Hospital Islam Az-Zahrah has denied that it must settle a RM8.32 million medical negligence suit within 14 days. This follows a writ of seizure and sale issued over the non-payment in the suit. The hospital said it would challenge the seizure process initiated by the plaintiff's lawyer due to errors in the process. This statement followed a New Straits Times report that the hospital had until July 23 to pay the sum before seized items would be auctioned. Hospital Islam Az-Zahrah said that the incident occurred under its former management, and that a new management is now running the hospital. It added that the previous management is currently working to settle the outstanding judgment sum and that there is an ongoing legal process. "We understand that the old management has paid a significant amount of money for this judgment. "We would like to make clear that this issue is solely an issue of outstanding debts and not a matter related to the daily operations of the hospital managed by the new management," it said in a statement published on Facebook today.(MORE TO COME)

Business as usual at Bangi hospital despite RM8.32mil court order
Business as usual at Bangi hospital despite RM8.32mil court order

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • New Straits Times

Business as usual at Bangi hospital despite RM8.32mil court order

KAJANG: With just 10 days left before a court-ordered asset seizure over a medical negligence case that resulted in an RM8.32 million payout, Hospital Islam Az-Zahrah is operating as usual, according to its staff and patients. A check by the New Straits Times today found that hospital services, including outpatient treatment, surgeries and maternity care, are ongoing, with patients and staff saying they have not been informed of any plans for closure or relocation. Nurul Yati Abd Manaf, 40, a patient from Kajang, said she had asked hospital staff if they were preparing to move or shut down, following rumours she had seen online. "I asked the staff here, but they said they have not received any directive from their CEO or management. Everything seems normal. Even the minor construction on the first floor is still in progress," she said. The mother of two said news reports had raised her concerns about the future of the hospital, especially since she has been seeking treatment there since the delivery of her first child, who is now 10. "All my children's medical records are here, and if there is going to be any closure or whatsoever, I need to know," she said when met outside the facility in Bangi today. Another visitor, who only wanted to be known as Mohamed Zack, 32, from Port Dickson, said he was at the hospital for the delivery of his first child. "I also heard about the lawsuit, but over here everything seems to be normal," he said. Meanwhile, Mohammad Amran Mohd Ajis, 44, said he brought his baby for treatment to the hospital on Friday and has since not received any clear information on whether the hospital will continue to operate. "My wife gave birth here, and we've been coming for check-ups. No one has told us anything about the hospital shutting down. We're still receiving care as usual," he said, adding that he was also keen to find out about the court order. Hospital staff on site also said they had not been given any notice of termination or changes in operations. Despite the apparent calm, the hospital, owned by Medi-Circle Sdn Bhd, is currently under legal pressure after the Kuala Lumpur High Court issued a writ of seizure and sale on May 26. The enforcement stems from a 2020 High Court judgment in favour of the family of a premature baby who suffered brain damage due to negligent obstetric care in 2003. The High Court initially awarded the family RM8.12 million in damages. While the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in 2022, it reduced the award to RM6.03 million and released two doctors named in the suit.

Hospital given two weeks to pay RM8.3mil
Hospital given two weeks to pay RM8.3mil

New Straits Times

time4 days ago

  • Health
  • New Straits Times

Hospital given two weeks to pay RM8.3mil

KUALA LUMPUR: A private hospital, which was slapped with a writ of seizure and sale over non-payment of RM8.32 million in a medical negligence case, has until July 23 to settle the amount before the seized items are auctioned. The hospital, Hospital Islam Az-Zahrah in Bangi, Selangor, is owned by Medi-Circle Sdn Bhd. Lawyers representing the claimant said they had seized inventory and Medi-Circle had 14 days to settle the amount, failing which the seized items would be sold via auction on a date to be determined by the court. There are also guards stationed at the hospital to ensure that the items seized were not taken out of the premises. The New Straits Times had tried, on numerous occasions, to contact the hospital, but it has yet to respond. Checks, however, showed the hospital was still operating as usual, with visitors entering and exiting the premises. The Health Ministry said it has taken note of this case and would monitor the situation. The writ of seizure and sale was issued by the Kuala Lumpur High Court after the hospital failed to pay the claimant the court-ordered sum with interest after first losing the case in 2020. The suit was filed by the family of a newborn baby, which claimed that their child suffered from spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy due to medical negligence. According to court judgments sighted by the NST, the High Court had on Sept 10, 2020, found the hospital liable for the baby girl's condition, a decision that was upheld by the Court of Appeal and Federal Court. In their suit, the family claimed that their child was born prematurely at 26 weeks on Feb 26, 2003, as a result of negligent obstetric services at the hospital.

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