Johor to investigate claims of payment-before-treatment case

JOHOR BARU: The state government will investigate claims that a government hospital here refused to offer treatment to a Singaporean accident victim without an up-front cash payment.
Johor Health, Environment, Education and Information Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said the case is being investigated and urged angry netizens to be patient.
In the incident last Friday, Justinian Tan (pix), 25, and his friend Brandon Yeo were knocked down by a car at Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir in Taman Abad at 3am after a supper outing with friends.
According to a friend of both victims, a Malaysian-registered Proton Saga knocked into them and sped-off.
The group of friends subsequently called up the police and ambulance. According to their account, the ambulance took a long time to arrive at the scene.
The friend said upon arrival at the government hospital, they were told that the victims would only be treated after they paid RM1,350 each for both Tan and Yeo.
Recounting their ordeal which was published on a Singaporean portal, the friend referred to as Joshua in the article, said they had to go in search of an ATM machine.
It was reported that Tan was discharged from the hospital at 10.45am on Friday and was rushed to the Singapore General Hospital by ambulance.
Tan was admitted to the Singapore General Hospital at noon the same day.
He was however declared brain-dead at 5.56pm on Monday. On Wednesday, his parents made the decision to take him off life support.