JAKARTA - Acting Regent of Cianjur Herman Suherman was considered a blunder when describing the condition of one of his residents who was suspected of having the COVID-19 virus. He clearly mentions the name, gender, to the place where the person works. Not only that, Herman also conveyed to the public where the patient was being treated. In fact, according to a medical code of ethics this should not be done.
Affirmation of the code of conduct was also conveyed by the Secretary of the Directorate General of PDP, Ministry of Health, Achmad Yurianto. In a press conference at the Ministry of Health's office, Yuri said those who are infected with their personal data must be protected.
"It is important that we maintain ethics, that in diagnosis there is a secret medical ethics," said Yuri at his office, Jalan Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, Tuesday, March 3.
Safeguarding patient personal data by keeping it confidential, Yuri said, was the first thing to pay attention to. Meanwhile, the second rule of ethics that must be obeyed is that it is prohibited to disclose the location where patients are treated.
"There are medical secrets that must not expose the patient's name. Even in the international world, the name of the hospital has never been exposed," he said.
The spokesperson for handling the COVID-19 virus then requested that regional heads who wish to make announcements can coordinate with the Ministry of Health. In addition, to inform the positive and negative status, he said, let it be the duty of the institution. The aim is clear so that disinformation does not occur when the announcement is made.
Not only that, the Ministry of Health also called Yuri has issued a circular regarding the prevention and handling of the corona virus to the local government. It's just that he questioned why regional heads are still reckless in making statements.
"We have even made the manual. We asked friends in the region, whether they have received a circular, already. Have you understood it? But how come the response is this way. Yes, the ruler wants that. Please understand the characteristics of the region," he said.
It is known, several hours after President Joko Widodo explained the COVID-19 virus case for the first time in Indonesia on Monday, March 2, a number of regional heads then held a separate press conference.
DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, for example, immediately appeared at the DKI Jakarta City Hall. In fact, when it was crowded about floods or Formula E, he was reluctant to comment on anything. Furthermore, Depok Mayor Mohammad Idris also held a press conference. Just like the Regent of Cianjur, Idris at that time also opened the personal data of patients infected with COVID-19 from his area.
Moments later in the same day, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil also immediately set an alert for the spread of COVID-19 after two Depok residents were infected.
Apart from the Ministry of Health, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD has also emphasized that regional heads do not need to look for a stage when dealing with the virus. He also asked regional heads not to dramatize by holding unnecessary press conferences.
"It is also hoped that the government will not overly dramatize the problem, especially regional governments. There is something that is not clear about the corona conference," Mahfud said at the Kemenkopolhukam Office, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta.
He also alluded to the statement of the Acting Regent of Cianjur, Herman Suherman, who confidently said that his citizens were exposed to the virus that originated in the city of Wuhan, China.
In fact, based on data from the Ministry of Health, the man who reportedly just returned from Malaysia died not because of the COVID-19 virus. Reflecting on this, he then asked the local government to be wise in conveying information.
Instead of looking for a stage, it is better to socialize
Reflecting on the many mouths of regional heads who speak, to neglect to convey personal data, public policy observer Trubus Rahadiansyah assesses that the statements of regional heads that are not well measured can actually cause panic in the community and create a stigma that they are looking for a political stage.
Socialization in dealing with this virus, he said, is more important than fighting over the stage to talk about things that they really do not know. Moreover, to expose personal data that is against the code of ethics.
"Actually, the local government should disseminate information about the corona virus (COVID-19) instead of panicking. Then open communication with the community to explain what the handling is like. So the community is educated and guided," said Trubus when contacted by VOI via telephone, Tuesday, 2 March.
If the socialization is sufficient, then local governments can think about how to deal with the impact of this virus in the future by coordinating with various related parties in the region.
"After the president announced, they should reduce it so that people don't panic. Because the regional head looks panicked," he explained, adding that the statement that comes out of the mouth of a regional head should not add to the long list of disinformation related to the COVID-19 virus.
"The impact, such as panic buying and others, should be the concern of the local government. It is not that they are fighting to convey information," he concluded.
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