THE family of the teenager who has lain comatose after a vicious beating by bullies last week is asking the hospital to release his medical report today. 

The request was made via their elected representative, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, who has written to the Penang Hospital director Dr Norsidah Ismail on the matter today.

In his letter, Ramkarpal asked the hospital to release the report to the family so that they can seek a second opinion on the boy’s condition.

“The family is asking for the hospital to allow a specialist of their choosing to see the boy at the Penang Hospital immediately for a second opinion,” he said.

The 18-year-old teen is said to be braindead after he was beaten up and sexually assaulted by a group of boys last Friday night.

By the time he was sent to the Penang Hospital, he was already unconscious. Doctors also found injuries in his anus and genitals.

Penang health exco Dr Afif Bahardin said the boy was still in critical condition.

Dr Afif, who visited the teen in the hospital’s intensive care unit this morning, said there were protocols to follow before doctors can declare a patient braindead.

“He is in a coma. He is on ventilators. The family is still waiting for the medical report,” he said.

Condemning the assault on the teen and his friend T. Previin, who was also injured in the attack, Dr Afif said the authorities and the public must work together to prevent such incidents from happening.

He said people must identify bullies and prevent them from hurting others. 

“The media must play its role to highlight and identify bullies.

“We must also relook how we can be more alert and caring towards the people around us to prevent these incidents,” he said.

The victim knew his attackers, having gone to school with them. His family and Previin have told the press that his attackers were boys from school who had bullied him then. – June 14, 2017.