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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.