Criminal Policy Reform for Medical Personnel in Indonesia’s New Criminal Code: Legal Protection and Implementation Challenges
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54518/rh.5.6.2025.910Keywords:
Criminal Code, Criminal Policy, Legal Protection, Medical Malpractice, Medical NegligenceAbstract
This study examines changes in criminal policy concerning medical personnel under Indonesia’s new Criminal Code Law Number 1 of 2023, focusing on legal protection and implementation challenges. The research is motivated by the rising number of medical malpractice cases in Indonesia, totalling 51 cases between 2023 and 2025, highlighting medical practitioners’ vulnerability to criminal liability. The study aims to analyze the scope of legal protection for medical professionals under the new Criminal Code and identify practical challenges in enforcing these regulations. A normative-juridical approach is applied, supported by empirical data from malpractice cases and court decisions involving medical personnel. Findings show that the new Criminal Code clarifies distinctions between medical negligence and inherent medical risk through specific provisions (Articles 344–346, 422–475), offering protection to practitioners who act in good faith and follow professional standards. Nonetheless, implementation challenges persist, including public misconceptions of medical risks, limited accountability mechanisms, and overlapping legal regulations. In conclusion, while the new Criminal Code advances the balance between patient rights and medical professional protection, effective law enforcement requires stronger integration with health regulations and professional disciplinary systems.
Downloads
References
Amalia, M., Reumi, F., & Kristanto, K. (2025). Kitab undang undang hukum pidana tahun 2023. Jambi: PT. Sonpedia Publishing Indonesia.
Basyarudin, B. (2021). Tinjauan yuridis malpraktek medis dalam sistem hukum Indonesia. Jurnal Cakrawala Ilmiah, 1(5), 1213-1222.
Bester, J. C. (2020). Beneficence, interests, and wellbeing in medicine: what it means to provide benefit to patients. The American Journal of Bioethics, 20(3), 53-62.
Birkeland, S. F. (2022). Health care complaints and professional legal responsibility—a cross-country comparative review. European journal of health law, 30(3), 297-321.
Butt, S., & Lindsey, T. (2020). The criminal code. In crime and punishment in Indonesia (pp. 21-43). London: Routledge.
Daeng, Y., Ningsih, N., Khairul, F., Winarsih, S., & Zulaida, Z. (2023). Pertanggungjawaban pidana rumah sakit dan tenaga medis di atas tindakan malpraktik berdasarkan undang-undang nomor 17 Tahun 2023 tentang kesehatan. Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, 3(6), 3453-3461.
Dananjaya, A. N. D., Dewi, A. A. S. L., & Suryani, L. P. (2019). Sanksi malpraktik dan resiko medik yang dilakukan oleh dokter. Jurnal Analogi Hukum, 1(1), 6-10.
Dewangga, R. C., Parikesit, K. H., & Sapsudin, A. (2025). Criminal and civil responsibility of hospital for negligence of nurses who inject wrong medicine. Research Horizon, 5(5), 1869-1880.
Eddy, T. (2019). Professional doctor mistakes and verdicts judge: Dilemma in medical services in Indonesia. Kumpulan Jurnal Dosen Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, 2(4), 23-25.
Haryadi, T., Sumarno, S., & Risdawati, I. (2025). Pentingnya perlindungan hukum bagi tenaga medis dan tenaga kesehatan dalam praktik pelayanan kesehatan. Journal Of Science And Social Research, 8(3), 4239-4245.
Ikhsan, I. S., & Christianto, H. (2022). Urgensi Informed consent sebagai pencegahan tindak pidana oleh dokter. Jurnal Hukum dan Kenotariatan, 6(2), 1201-1215.
Jansen, L. A. (2022). Medical beneficence, nonmaleficence, and patients’ well-being. The Journal of clinical ethics, 33(1), 23-28.
Kurniawan, I. G. A., & Chandra, A. (2024). The civil law aspects of informed consent to medical procedures. SASI, 30(3), 326-338.
Mahardhika, R. (2022). The complain management strategy in dealing with alleged malpractice in digital era. Acitya Wisesa: Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(3)1-7.
Methangkool, E., & Brook, K. (2025). Medical errors should not be criminalized. Missouri Medicine, 122(2), 100-104.
Miziara, I. D., & Miziara, C. S. M. G. (2022). Medical errors, medical negligence and defensive medicine: A narrative review. Clinics, 77(2), 100-113.
Mustafa, G., & Darmawan, E. S. (2024). Strengthening legal frameworks and patient safety: A narrative review of medical and dental malpractice in Indonesia. Jurnal ARSI: Administrasi Rumah Sakit Indonesia, 11(1), 2-6.
Muzakkir, A. K. (Ed.). (2020). Perundang-undangan Indonesia: kajian mengenai ilmu dan teori perundang-undangan serta pembentukannya. Jakarta: CV. Social Politic Genius (SIGn).
Nadeak, J. O. H. (2024). Penerapan disiplin profesi sebagai instrumen penegakan hukum pidana kesehatan berbasis keadilan prosedural. Proceeding Masyarakat Hukum Kesehatan Indonesia, 1(1), 184-195.
Nasser, M. (2013). Medical dispute in Indonesia health. In Legal and forensic medicine (pp. 1459-1470). Berlin: Springer.
Parulian, I., & Fikri, A.M. (2024). Criminal law reform in Indonesia in the health sector: towards a responsive and humanistic system. Journal of Social Sciences and Education, 2(6), 306–312.
Rahmayanti, R., Fibrini, D., Pangaribuan, D. R., Hasibuan, S. A., & Meutia, C. Y. (2024). Malpractice and risk of medical procedures. International Journal Reglement & Society (IJRS), 5(2), 144-151.
Satria, B. (2024). Medical criminal law and malpractice (aspects criminal liability of internal doctors health services). International Journal of Society and Law, 2(1), 127-136.
Siregar, R. A. (2025). Pandangan hukum kesehatan terhadap dugaan malpraktek versus komplikasi tindakan kedokteran. Jurnal Kolaboratif Sains, 8(6), 2897-2909.
Sofyan, A. (2017). Hukum acara pidana suatu pengantar. Jakarta: Prenada Media.
Supraba, P. A. A., Parsa, I. W., & Manuaba, I. B. G. F. (2025). Pertanggungjawaban hukum terhadap tenaga medis dan tenaga kesehatan atas pelanggaran kode etik menurut undang-undang nomor 17 tahun 2023 tentang kesehatan. Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Sosial, 11(1), 126-131.
Suseno, S., Ramli, A. M., Mayana, R. F., Safiranita, T., & Aurellia, N. T., B. (2025). Cybercrime in the new criminal code in Indonesia. Cogent Social Sciences, 11(1), 243-247.
Sutarno, S., & Maryati, M. (2021). Information of medical malpractice and risks in the informed consent process before surgery in Indonesia. Yustisia, 10(2), 269-290.
Thahir, P. S., & Tongat, T. (2024). Legal review of medical crime: Patient protection and professional responsibility in medical practice. Audito Comparative Law Journal (Aclj), 5(2), 130-142.
Ulya, F. N., & Akbar, N. A. (2025). 24 Malpractice cases caused deaths in 2023–2025. Kompas.com. Retrieved in August 4 2025 from https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/07/03/08485901/24-kasus-malpraktik-sebabkan-kematian-pada-2023-2025
Widjaja, G. (2025). Transformasi penegakan disiplin profesi medis: dari MKDKI ke majelis disiplin profesi sebagai screening system dugaan malpraktik. Journal of Community Dedication, 4(4), 149-160.
WiraSena, I. G. A., & Arta, I. K. K. (2022). Implikasi yuridis kenakalan remaja dalam dunia balap liar. Kertha Widya, 9(2), 60-66.
Yunita, E. D. (2025). Profil dugaan malpraktik medis di rumah sakit wilayah daerah istimewa yogyakarta yang dilaporkan ke MKDKI Dari Tahun 2004-2022. Yogyakarta: Universitas Gadjah Mada (Doctoral dissertation).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Hely Ramadhini Harahap, Ahmad Ma'mun Fikri
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
