Authority of Health Workers in Telemedicine Medical Services: Indonesian Perspective

Introduction: This paper aims at conducting a legal analysis of the health workers' authority in telemedicine service in Indonesia. This article discusses an issue related to the importance of telemedicine usage in health services. That is beneficial to reduce virus transmission. Therefore, government issued regulations regarding telemedicine services by medical personnel. So, there is a change in the legal relationship that previously occurred in health care facilities into a legal relationship between doctors and patients. This case creates legal problems in the form of legal ambiguity regarding the authority of medical personnel through telemedicine services. Methods: Normative legal research implemented in this research and the approach implemented is the state and the conceptual approach. Results: Telemedicine provides medical services and health information. In Indonesia, telemedicine was made mandatory by Law Number 36 on Health in 2009, particularly in terms of medical expertise. Legal basis of telemedicine in Indonesia is the Law on health however the regulation is general. Conclusions: The conclusion is the need for detailed regulation of the limits of authority of health workers in health services through telemedicine. This article suggests that legal reform of the authority of medical personnel in providing services through telemedicine during the pandemic and after it.