GEORGE TOWN: Bullying is wrong and cannot be tolerated anywhere, especially in hospitals, says Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

       The Health director-general said bullying happens at every level and everywhere.

       “It happens in schools, institutions, hostels, training camps, departments, agencies and even in ministries. Bullying happens in cyberspace as well,” he told The Star.

       Dr Noor Hisham added that the Health Ministry was awaiting the police investigation to conclude and the post-mortem report, including the chemistry results.

       He was commenting on the death of a houseman from Penang Hospital who had recently fallen to his death from a residential building.

       Dr Noor Hisham also urged those who are being bullied to step forward and report the matter.

       Earlier, George Town Deputy OCPD Supt V. Saravanan said police were still awaiting results of the post-mortem, lab tests and chemist reports.

       They also expected to record statements from the houseman’s family soon, he said.

       “Investigations into the death of the houseman are ongoing. For now, we have recorded statements from his housemate and doctor.

       “We will be recording statements from his family this week. For now, the death is still classified as sudden death,” he said.

       Meanwhile, Penang health committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said the Chemistry Department was expected to complete its toxicology test by next Wednesday.

       She reiterated that the state government was committed to addressing issues faced by junior doctors.

       “I have sent suggestions to the Health Minister, Health director-general as well as his deputy.

       “I will also be calling a state health committee meeting to find real solutions and change,” she said.

       Speaking to a news portal, Norlela also suggested that a psychiatric evaluation of all doctors be carried out to assess if they had been victims of bullying and were taking it out on their juniors.

       She had written to the psychiatry department director about checking on the culture of bullying, she added.

       On May 4, the Penang Health Department confirmed that a graduate medical officer had fallen to his death on April 17 and that this was being investigated.

       He had been stationed at Penang Hospital since April 4.

       This is believed to be the second death involving a junior doctor in two years.

       In December 2020, a doctor who had resigned from the same hospital was found dead in his house.

       Housemanship is an internship that all medical graduates go through before becoming full-fledged doctors.