A 64-year-old man in Kuala Lumpur was left baffled and frustrated after what should have been a routine clinic visit for a finger injury turned into a troubling experience. Not only was he asked to pay upfront while bleeding, but he was also sent home with an opened tube of eye ointment as wound medication.
The man, known only as KK, works as a frame maker and had accidentally cut his finger with a blade while preparing materials. With blood pouring from the wound, he rushed to a clinic in Dang Wangi, expecting urgent care. Instead, he said staff immediately requested RM100 (about S$290) before treatment could begin, reported WeirdKaya.
“I was in pain and bleeding badly, but they told me to pay first before they could even look at me,” KK recalled. He eventually complied, though later described the practice as highly unprofessional.
Painful Stitching Despite Anaesthetic
KK further alleged that the treatment process felt disorderly. He claimed the nurse appeared unfamiliar with the tools, leading to repeated mistakes and scolding from the doctor.
Before stitching, he was given two anaesthetic injections. However, he said the injections barely worked, and he could still feel every stitch as the doctor sewed up his wound. When he voiced his discomfort, the doctor, who claimed to have 30 years of experience, brushed it off by saying anaesthetic sometimes “doesn’t work well on certain people”.
“I could feel the needle and thread pulling through my skin. It was unbearable,” KK said.
The Wrong Medicine — And It Was Already Used
The ordeal did not end there. After paying more than RM400 (around S$115) in total for stitches, injections, and medicine, KK discovered that one of the items he was given was an antibiotic eye cream. To make matters worse, the tube had already been opened and partly used.
When he sought follow-up care at another clinic, a different doctor explained that the ointment was indeed medically suitable for wound treatment. Still, KK argued that the clinic staff should have explained this clearly, especially since the packaging labelled it as eye medication.
“I was shocked. I paid so much, and they gave me a used eye cream for my wound without any explanation,” he said.
KK has since spoken out, urging others to be cautious about where they seek treatment during emergencies. His case has also stirred debate online about patient rights, medical ethics, and transparency in private healthcare.
For many, his story highlights the importance of ensuring that clinics maintain proper standards of care, especially when dealing with urgent medical situations.
Top image source: WeirdKaya