Yogyakarta, September 30 — Graduates of the UGM Master’s Program in Bioethics continue to make contributions across various professional and academic fields. One such example is Dr. dr. Ery Suhaymi, S.H., M.H., M.Ked.(Surg), Sp.B-ET., M.Bio.Et., FINACS, an alumnus of the UGM Master’s Program in Bioethics, who actively contributes to the advancement of bioethics, health law, and medical practice.
Dr. Ery Suhaymi, who currently serves as the head of RS Regina Maris Medan and the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) of North Sumatra, was invited as a speaker at the monthly RABOAN scientific discussion forum organized by the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH) UGM. Held online, the forum focused on the topic “The Application of Patient Autonomy in Surgical Emergency Care in Hospitals.”
During the discussion, Dr. Ery shared his professional experience, knowledge, and research findings on ethical and legal challenges faced by surgeons when providing care to patients in emergency situations. The topic is particularly significant because emergency conditions require physicians to make rapid decisions to save lives and prevent permanent disability, while at the same time respecting patient autonomy and the patient’s right to information and informed consent.
One of the issues discussed was the situation in which patients arrive at the emergency department unconscious and without a companion. Ethical dilemmas may also arise when medical decision-making is influenced by local kinship traditions, such as the Dalihan Na Tolu tradition in North Sumatra, in which family deliberations involving respected family members may play a role in medical decision-making. Based on his research involving surgeons in North Sumatra, Dr. Ery also highlighted concerns about legal disputes and allegations of malpractice as factors that may contribute to physicians’ hesitation in making decisions in emergency settings.
From the perspectives of bioethics and health law, Dr. Ery explained that in emergency situations, patient safety becomes an important consideration when consent cannot be obtained immediately. When a patient is unconscious and no representative is available to provide consent, necessary medical interventions to save the patient’s life may be carried out in accordance with applicable regulations. The discussion also referred to Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 17 of 2023 on Health, particularly Articles 274 and 275(1), concerning the obligations and legal protection of medical and health professionals when providing services in accordance with professional standards, service standards, standard operating procedures, and professional ethics.
Dr. Ery’s contribution to the forum demonstrates how competencies gained through graduate education in bioethics can be applied to professional practice. His background as a specialist physician, practitioner, academic, and alumnus of the UGM Master’s Program in Bioethics illustrates the role of graduates in bridging bioethical scholarship with real-world challenges in healthcare, particularly in addressing the complexities of medical decision-making.
Through such contributions, alumni of the UGM Master’s Program in Bioethics not only pursue professional careers in their respective fields but also help disseminate bioethical perspectives and practices among healthcare professionals and the academic community. This represents an important form of alumni contribution toward strengthening healthcare services that uphold patient safety, rights, dignity, and well-being.
The activity also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through strengthening the quality and ethical dimensions of healthcare services; SDG 4 (Quality Education) through knowledge exchange and the development of academic and professional capacity; and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) through strengthening understanding of patient rights, professional ethics, and legal aspects of healthcare.
Writer: Yeti Susilowati