Patient under observation for COVID-19 in Jakarta jumps to his death from hospital’s 4th floor

Illustration. Photo: Shutterstock
Illustration. Photo: Shutterstock

A patient under observation (PDP) for COVID-19 jumped to his death from the fourth floor of Hermina Hospital in Jatinegara, East Jakarta yesterday, allegedly after requesting to be discharged just the night before.

The male patient, identified as 72-year-old MR by local news outlets, was being treated for pneumonia and diabetes at Hermina, symptoms of which placed him under the PDP list amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

East Jakarta Police Chief Arie Ardian confirmed that the incident occurred on Sunday morning.

“A witness who was placed in the same room as the victim saw him opening the window and immediately jumped from the fourth floor of Hermina Hospital [COVID-19 isolation ward],” Arie said.

Arie also cited a witness as saying that MR had expressed a wish to return back to his home on Saturday evening. 

Police also questioned another witness, a security guard at the hospital, who said that MR was found dead in front of the hospital’s car park entrance. He’d heard a loud collision before discovering MR’s body, which had been lying face up. 

At the time of publication, police are still investigating whether MR intended to flee or commit suicide.


Suicide is often a taboo topic in Indonesia while depression is often brushed off as a sign of weakness in the sufferer. Indonesia currently does not have a dedicated government-run suicide prevention hotline, so if you or anyone you know is suffering from depression and/or contemplating suicide, you can get help from several local NGOs dealing with mental health and suicide prevention, such as saveyourselves.id.

 

Related:

West Java COVID-19 patient hauled by medical workers hugs neighbor in act of defiance

‘Whatever, Indonesia’: Public vents frustration at recklessness and poor governance amid pandemic



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