The Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) implemented in certain areas nationwide has been a life-changing situation for many. Previously, during the Full Movement Control Order (FMCO), the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were more relaxed and going out to buy groceries and attending medical appointments were less troublesome. However, the SOPs for the EMCO areas are more complex, indeed.
Despite the strict SOPs, some still find it difficult to access resources in times of emergencies especially, when it comes to apartments guarded by barbed wires and the police force. Recently, a post on In Real Life, a website posting personal stories of Malaysians across a plethora of topics, exposed the horrors of the SOPs which actually managed to claim the life of a baby.
The writer, who goes by the name of Ayie (real name Fitrie Abdul Majeed), works as a driver and his wife Putri Adzimah Ahmad works as an admin. They are currently living in Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, which has been placed under the EMCO since 3rd July 2021. The wife has been pregnant since May 2021 and she was in her first trimester. Upon facing a miscarriage in her previous pregnancy, they knew that this was a high-risk pregnancy. Therefore, they diligently followed up with the doctor’s advice. Prior to the EMCO, on 29th June, they went to a nearby clinic because his wife had been spotting (bleeding from her vagina) and the doctor gave her some medicine which would last for one week. After that, the doctor said, “If you are still bleeding, come to my clinic immediately, because it’s an emergency.”
Adding on, he told them to return to him for a follow-up if the medicine runs out.
When the EMCO was implemented, barbed wire was placed around their apartment and no one was allowed to go out or go in. His wife continued to bleed and at 12:30pm, he went to the police to inform them about her condition. This was to bring her to the clinic urgently hence, he showed the policewoman the clinic appointment card. Shockingly, the policewoman replied, “We can’t give you permission to leave, because it’s not an emergency.”.
Ayie insisted that it was an emergency and the policewoman gave him the number of their Medical Mobile Team. He immediately called them, explained the situation and was told that an ambulance would be sent — adding on that they were not allowed to leave except in that ambulance van. They had to deal with a doctor unfamiliar with his wife’s case. The waiting duration for the ambulance took quite some time so, Ayie kept asking the police about its whereabouts. The police, said, “Wait just a bit longer, the MInistry of Health van is coming soon.”
It finally arrived after 3 hours. After checking his wife’s blood pressure and seeing the swab test results from a day before, they agreed to bring them to a government hospital nearby despite having an appointment with the private clinic they visited a few days back. When confronted with the fact that they have an appointment with the clinic aforementioned, the personnel in charge said, “It’s not allowed. You are only allowed to see a government doctor to scan your wife’s pregnancy.”
Upon arriving at the first government hospital, they had to be sent to a separate location because the government hospital was full. Halfway through the journey, they stopped by the Government Health Clinic to fill up some forms. However, a doctor at the clinic said that he had just called the hospital and received information from the doctor that there were too many cases at the Government Hospital and further stated that this was a “normal” case and not “serious”
He also stated that if his wife felt a lot of blood or discharge, they would then have to call 999 and would then be sent to a hospital. There was no ultrasound done and both Ayie and his wife were sent home with Folic Acid tablets and an MC. That night, Ayie’s wife was still bleeding and they suspected that it was more serious. Reaching out to the private clinic doctor, due to the lack of options, the doctor was indeed puzzled with the SOPs and he sent the medication over via Lalamove.
The wife, however, didn’t feel right therefore, he went down to the police tent again and asked the policemen again if they could leave to see the doctors. This time, they allowed it as it was an emergency. When asked the reason why they were not allowed to go there previously, they explained that the police team on this shift wasn’t the one that said it, but the other team and the officer in charge on Tuesday should have let them go as it was indeed an emergency.
An ultrasound was done and there was no longer a heartbeat. Upon asking for a second opinion, the doctor referred them to a specialist centre for an intravaginal ultrasound to be done and it was confirmed, there was no longer a heartbeat. The doctor told his wife to undergo a D&C (dilation and curettage procedure) to “wash” the insides of her and to remove their unborn child.
He had various questions and was fuming with anger as he felt a deep sense of injustice building inside of him. Then he asked the policemen, “Why did you do this? You should have let us go from the beginning.” The only response that came was, “On behalf of the PDRM, we are sorry for our mistake.”
Ayie lodged a report at the police station and it was also his wife’s birthday where she was at the hospital going through the painful procedure to remove the remains of their unborn child. He proceeded to lodge a report with Suruhanjaya Integrity Agensi Penguatkuasaan without the intention of taking further action. The intention was to ensure this doesn’t happen to anyone else and to ensure that people aren’t put into difficult situations as such during the pandemic.
The distraught writer also added that for people in EMCO areas, getting treatment or having circumstances that involve death are all included under emergency cases. Therefore, people are allowed to travel for these two events with the permission of PDRM.
News of Ayie’s plight came to light, after Dr Thanussha Francis Xavier, the Vice President and Co-Founder of Parti MUDA shared this story on social media, chiding the government for allowing non-medical personnel to make medical decisions in terms of SOP in deciding what is a medical emergency and isn’t.
“Bagi kes kecemasan seperti mendapatan rawatan kesihatan atau kematian adalah DIBENARKAN setelah mendapat kebenaran daripada PDRM.”
This is the danger of allowing non-medical personnel to make medical decisions in terms of SOP in deciding what is a medical emergency and isn’t. pic.twitter.com/vusA8EhvAj
— Dr Thanussha 🏴🇲🇾 (@DrThanussha) July 15, 2021
Nevertheless, the higher authorities in charge of EMCO areas should definitely have some empathy for people undergoing life or death situations. It’s indeed truly confusing for people when the rules and the implementation vary from one another.
Sources: In Real Life, FMT.
The post Pregnant Mom In Sentul Lost Her Unborn Child Due To EMCO SOPs appeared first on Hype Malaysia.
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