Two Trisakti Alumni Associations Form a Legal Aid Institute for Dentists

Indonesia: In a significant joint effort, two prominent Trisakti University Alumni Associations (IKA) have come together to establish a Legal Aid Institute (LBH) aimed at providing essential legal assistance to dentists. 

The collaborating associations are the Faculty of Dentistry (IKA FKG) and the Faculty of Law (IKA FH). The LBH’s primary objective is to offer support to dentists facing legal challenges and to serve as an educational resource concerning pertinent statutory regulations that dentists must be familiar with and adhere to.

Exclusive Legal Assistance

The head of IKA FKG alumni, Moestar Putrajaya, confirmed that, at present, the LBH is exclusively providing legal assistance to Trisakti dentistry alumni. However, they have ambitious plans to expand their services in the future to include dentist alumni from other universities across Indonesia. 

The LBH will establish a complaint hotline to facilitate communication with the approximately seven thousand Trisakti dentistry alumni scattered throughout Indonesia. The LBH’s educational initiatives will be carried out through online platforms as well as face-to-face sessions to ensure comprehensive outreach.

LBH’s Focus on Prevention and Legal Training

Emphasizing prevention as a paramount concern, the head of IKA FH, Sahala Siahaan, stated that the LBH’s primary aim is to thwart potential legal violations before they occur. 

Historically, individuals have sought legal counsel only after facing legal problems. The LBH seeks to break this pattern by proactively equipping doctors with the necessary legal knowledge and guidance to avoid legal pitfalls in their professional practices, such as lawsuits in practice malls and other settings. 

The LBH will provide training and coaching to raise awareness among dentists regarding medical laws and potential violations.

Extending Legal Education to Dental Students

As part of their long-term vision, IKA FH and IKA FKG are planning to propose incorporating legal materials into the curriculum of Trisakti University’s dental students. 

This proposal aims to ensure that all dental students receive a comprehensive understanding of the legal aspects relevant to their future profession. The proposal seeks to include two credits dedicated to legal studies in the final semesters of the dental program.

Welcome Response from the Trisakti Alumni Association

The collaboration between IKA FKG and IKA FH in establishing the LBH has received a warm welcome from the Chairperson of the Trisakti Alumni Association, Silmy Karim. 

He lauded the partnership as a timely response to the implementation of the new Health Law and viewed it as a vital step in safeguarding medical personnel, particularly by fostering an understanding of legal provisions affecting healthcare practitioners.

The formation of this Legal Aid Institute is anticipated to have a positive impact on the dental community, offering much-needed support and legal guidance to dentists while promoting a culture of proactive adherence to legal principles within the profession.