12-12-2023 (BANGKOK) Authorities in Bangkok have launched an investigation following a widely circulated report alleging that a private hospital on Pattanakarn Road denied emergency treatment to a critically injured Taiwanese tourist. The incident, reported by Taiwanese TV station TVBS, has raised concerns about the treatment of foreign tourists in Thailand, prompting action from the Public Health Ministry and Tourism and Sports Ministry.
Chen, the Taiwanese tourist, succumbed to his injuries en route to a second hospital after the initial refusal of emergency treatment at a hospital located just 500 meters from the accident site. TVBS cited the Taiwanese Tourism Authority, stating that Chen was part of a group of 18 tourists visiting Bangkok. However, on the night of December 7, he opted to explore the city alone. When he failed to rejoin the group on the morning of December 8, the group leader reported him missing to the police, discovering later that Chen had been involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident.
The incident gained attention on the social media page “Yak Dung Diew Jud Hai” (If you want to be famous, so be it), shared by a member of the Ruamkatanyu Foundation’s ambulance staff. According to the post, at 1:50 am on December 8, Chen was found unconscious on the road island in front of Pattanakarn Soi 50. The foundation’s emergency team performed CPR, transferred him into an ambulance, and attempted to take him to a state hospital 10 km away after the nearby private hospital refused treatment.
The hospital staff allegedly declined to attend to Chen until receiving approval from their supervisor. A nurse, identified as the emergency ward supervisor, reprimanded the rescue team for bringing the injured man without any relatives present. She argued that without relatives, the hospital would face challenges reclaiming medical expenses. Consequently, she directed the ambulance to transport the patient to a state hospital over 10 km away.
The social media post garnered over 1,500 reactions and 170 comments expressing anger towards the unnamed hospital. Dr. Sura Wisetsak, director-general of the Health Service Support Department, announced on Tuesday that the implicated hospital would undergo investigation, emphasizing that all hospitals are obligated to treat emergency patients. He highlighted that under the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients, any unconscious patient is entitled to treatment, with the hospital later seeking reimbursement from the government.
Dr. Sura warned that denying treatment to an emergency patient could lead to a maximum fine of 40,000 baht and/or a maximum jail term of two years. Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol has also intervened, instructing relevant agencies to thoroughly examine the case, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the need for swift and just action.
