KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — Doctors from Bentong Hospital are up in arms over the lack of action by the authorities after a hidden camera was found in the emergency department’s toilet in January.

The letter, dated March 24, was supported by 14 doctors. It was addressed to the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) while copies were sent to Health Minister Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam, Pahang Health Department Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail, Bentong Hospital director Datuk Dr Chandra Sekanan Raman and the ministry’s legal adviser Mohd Fazin Mahmud.

In the letter, the doctors claimed they found two more hidden cameras — one in a toilet and the other in a filing cupboard — in the One-Stop Crisis Centre room. A police report was lodged on January 30.

“However, to date, no action has been taken and we have yet to receive any positive feedback regarding the investigations,” read the letter, which was made available to Malay Mail.

“Medical officers in Bentong Hospital are under emotional stress. We work in an uncomfortable environment and this is complicated further as it is strongly believed a member of the emergency department is behind it. Such an immoral act is embarrassing. We are waiting and praying for the culprit to be nabbed. It has been two months and yet the culprit remains among us.”

MMA president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said the hospital must initiate an internal inquiry to pacify the situation.

“There has not been an internal investigation. Doctors are already working under pressure in the emergency department and they do not need this additional headache,” said Dr Tharmaseelan.

“While police will investigate the matter, the hospital authorities must look into it as well. But no one has spoken to the doctors about the matter and it has been two months. Why the delay?”

Dr Tharmaseelan said doctors these days worked in “unsafe” environments.

“There is a clear security breach and this has been happening lately,” he said, while referring to a houseman who was assaulted at Malacca Hospital two weeks ago.

In the March 18 incident, the houseman suffered severe facial and eye injuries and a fractured jaw after he was allegedly assaulted by an army personnel. The army man is the husband of a nurse who worked with the doctor in the surgical department.

“Doctors need to be protected while at work. These are criminal offences. What were the security guards doing?

“The nurse concerned should have lodged a complaint with the hospital director or the appropriate authorities if the doctor had in any way provoked her. There are proper channels to air grouses, not by physical abuse.”

He said MMA did not condone any form of violence and assault against any health staff, including doctors.

Bentong police said they were still investigating the case of the hidden cameras found in Bentong Hospital on January 29, reports Benedict Ng.

“We are pairing up the evidence that we have found with other evidence. We are still working on it,” said Bentong OCPD Supt Mansor Mohd Noor.

“I met the hospital authorities (on Thursday) and gave them an update about our investigations. I cannot say more for now until we wrap up our probe,” he added.