ASEAN Society for Medical Law established to strengthen regional medical regulations

The ASEAN Society for Medical Law has been officially formed in Batam to strengthen medical law frameworks across Southeast Asia. The organization is led by Dr. Fajri Israq, a lecturer and Director of RS Graha Hermine Batam.

M. Nasser, Governor of the World Association for Medical Law (WAML), stated that the initiative is necessary due to the increasing frequency of medical referrals, interactions, and shared care between healthcare facilities and doctors within the ASEAN region. With a population of approximately 650 million, Nasser emphasized the need for a legal balance that protects both patient rights and healthcare professionals.

Nasser also noted that medical disputes require specialized legal approaches rather than general legal methods to account for the unique characteristics of healthcare services. The society aims to enhance cooperation in medical law education and teaching across various legal studies programs in ASEAN member states. During the formation, Professor A. Kumaralingam from the National University of Singapore highlighted the importance of prioritizing patient interests in the development of these legal frameworks.