By : Lydia Gomez

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: The paramedic who responded to an emergency call by Dr Cynthia Joseph's husband, was not allowed to check her when he arrived at the house.

St John Ambulance's emergency medical technician (EMT) Hishamudin Yaacob, 38, testifying yesterday at an inquest into Dr Cynthia's death, said her husband, Dr Retna Rasa, barred him from examining his wife, explaining that she was suffering from hypoglycaemia.

"He told us not to do anything, adding he only wanted transportation to send her to the Pantai Cheras Medical Centre (PCMC) accident and emergency unit. He told me he had already spoken to a doctor there," Hishamudin said.

Questioned further by DPP Shamsul Sulaiman, Hishamudin said he complied as it was the procedure to leave important decisions to any doctor at the scene.

"He introduced himself to me as a doctor with PCMC and said he was the person who contacted us," said Hishamudin, the fourth witness in the inquest.

Hishamudin, who has been an EMT for 12 years, said Dr Retna led him upstairs into the bedroom where Dr Cynthia was lying face up on the bed.

"Dr Retna said he only wanted a bottle of normal saline to set up the drips for her. Dr Cynthia was unconscious. He set up the drips and I just held the bottle.

"My colleague then got the canvas from the ambulance to move her from the room into the stretcher," he said.

He said Dr Retna followed the ambulance in his car.

"We agreed to meet at the hospital so I could get his signature for my report. After I handed the patient over to the emergency unit, I waited for about 45 minutes, but Dr Retna did not show up.

"I got a call from my headquarters saying there was another emergency and I had to leave with the ambulance. I did not meet him." he said.

When asked how Dr Retna was when they met at the house on Sept 25, 2004, Hishamudin said he appeared to be normal.

"Usually, when there is no doctor at the scene, the patient's family members would be hysterical. Some of them would scream at us to take the patient to the hospital immediately," he said.

When asked if he has ever seen any family member being calm in such a situation, Hishamudin said: "I have never seen anyone who was normal in such a condition."

The inquest is being held to determine the cause of Dr Cynthia's death and also to identify whether any person was criminally liable.

In early December 2004, the body of Dr Cynthia, 42, was exhumed as police began an investigation into whether her death on Sept 27, 2004, at the Pantai Cheras Medical Centre, was due to foul play.

Shamsul is assisting coroner Tasnim Abu Bakar, while Datuk V. Sithambaram and Veronica Eunice Vaz are appearing for Dr Retna and Dr Charlotte respectively.

Hearing continues on Nov 20.