Responding to Medical Law Case, IDI Babel Urges Legal Protection for Healthcare Workers

PANGKALPINANG - The Regional Board of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) of the Bangka Belitung Islands has issued an official position statement Number 71/IDI.WIL.BABEL/VIII/2026, calling for the importance of legal protection and the prevention of criminalization of medical personnel. This declaration was issued during a press conference in Pangkalpinang following the Pangkalpinang District Court's ruling that acquitted Dr. Ratna of all legal charges.

The Chairman of IDI Bangka Belitung, Dr. Arinal Pahlevy, emphasized that this step was taken to educate the public and law enforcement officials regarding the nature of the medical profession. According to him, the guarantee of safety at work is crucial so that healthcare workers can serve to their maximum capacity without the shadow of fear or groundless legal intimidation.

This position statement is also a form of appreciation from IDI Babel to the Panel of Judges of the Pangkalpinang District Court. In the ruling on case number 295/Pid.Sus/2025/PN Pgp read out on Monday, July 20, the judges declared that Dr. Ratna was not legally proven to have committed the criminal acts charged, while also restoring the doctor's good name and rights.

In its appeal, IDI Babel emphasized three main points regarding the characteristics of medical services. First, medical actions are effort-based aiming for recovery based on scientific standards and available facilities, not guaranteeing the final result absolutely. Second, the medical world constantly deals with scientific uncertainty, so the worsening of a patient's condition cannot simply be categorized as criminal negligence without proof of violations of standard operating procedures (SOP).

Third, there is a need for a shared commitment from the state and society to ensure the occupational safety of doctors. IDI Babel hopes that this legal momentum for Dr. Ratna will become a turning point for all parties to better respect the legal corridors and medical ethics in order to maintain the quality of healthcare services in Indonesia.