MMA Regrets "Licensed To Kill" Remark - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Tuesday expressed regret over the remark made by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff that doctors were "licensed to kill", when replying to a question in parliament Monday.

MMA president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin said MMA did not condone the notion that doctors were licensed to kill.

"It is unfortunate that the Deputy Health Minister blurted out such a remark. The MMA wishes to impress to the public that doctors are only licensed to heal or alleviate the sufferings of patients from their illness.

"Any death which occurs during the course of treatment is due to the severity of the disease," he said in a statement.

Dr Abdul Latiff caused a stir in parliament Monday when he used the expression "licence to kill" when replying to a question on why the government decided to extend the housemanship period for trainee doctors from one to two years.

The remark caused Dr Abdul Latiff to cross swords with a few opposition lawmakers, prompting Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to order him to retract his remark.

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=335691]