THERE is no need to take action against Dr Nur Ilyani Mohamed Nawawi for expressing disdain towards the LGBT community, said the Malaysian AIDS Foundation chairman.

Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, who is also the dean of Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Medicine, said her recent rebuke of Dr Nur Ilyani was a gentle reminder.

“In Malaysia, we are very quick to hand out punitive action. A gentle reminder was my intention when I rebuked her.

“I don’t think it is warranted to take punitive action against this doctor,” she said at the Men’s Health Conference at UM today.

She said she and other doctors are concerned about Dr Nur Ilyani’s judgmental attitude, which has been made public.

That, she said, warranted the rebuke.

She said doctors should be reminded of their duty to patients, and the trust placed in them.

“It was a reminder to all doctors that we have a duty to care (for patients) and be trusted.

“In a sense, doctors must set aside their personal beliefs, and focus on the responsibilities that we have, to care for patients who put their trust in us.

“We should not break that trust by being judgmental, or stigmatise those who are not like us.”

Dr Nur Ilyani, in a Facebook post, criticised the LGBT community, saying she, too, has the right to live peacefully, away from the “deviant lifestyles” of members of the community.

In the post, she said she wants activist Marina Mahathir, described as “promoting” LGBT rights, to answer several controversial questions.

She also said despite her views on the community, should any of them become her patients, she would treat them to her best ability.

The post has since been taken down.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who was present at the UM event, reiterated the importance of doctors keeping to their oath.

“The stance of the ministry is that, we treat all patients, regardless of their race, gender, belief or anything else.

“That is what we have stressed on, and we maintain this position. It is the Hippocratic Oath taken by all doctors.” – August 13, 2018.