Possible charges loom for hospital following death of Taiwanese tourist

The Health Service Support Department will propose tomorrow, that Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew file charges against a private hospital for refusing emergency treatment to a seriously injured Taiwanese tourist, who died during transfer to another hospital.

The department’s director general, Dr Sura Wisetsak, said today that he will submit the findings of an investigation into the hospital’s conduct. He visited the hospital in question today, to find out whether it had violated the provisions of the Medical Facilities Act B.E. 2541 (1998).

According to the law, a hospital must provide medical treatment to an emergency patient until he or she is out of danger, in line with the professional capabilities and the type of facility. Violators of the law are subject to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of 40,000 baht.

He also said that the National Institute for Emergency…