Ratchaburi hospital fires doctor after patient death

A private hospital in Ratchaburi has dismissed a senior doctor after a 30-year-old man died from a heart attack hours after allegedly being diagnosed with a panic attack and refused an electrocardiogram, or ECG, requested by his family.

San Camillo Hospital in Ban Pong district announced on Sunday, 19 July, that the physician had been fired with immediate effect.

The case emerged after the man's wife, teacher and online influencer Benyaporn Phanphet, known as "Kru Sai", described the events on social media.

Benyaporn said she believed her husband's death could have been avoided if he had received suitable treatment.

Family says requests for ECG were refused

According to Benyaporn, her husband went to San Camillo Hospital after suffering severe pain spreading from his arm to his chest, as well as heavy sweating.

She said he was sent between several departments. An orthopaedic doctor reportedly suspected a heart problem and referred him to a general practitioner.

The family repeatedly asked for an ECG, Benyaporn alleged, but the physician declined because he believed the symptoms were more likely caused by stress or a panic attack. She said the family also offered to pay for further tests or to take the patient to another hospital, but those requests were refused.

After returning home, the man collapsed later that evening and died. A subsequent autopsy found severe coronary artery disease, with two blocked arteries.

The family has filed a formal complaint seeking an investigation into the treatment provided.

Doctor dismissed after hospital inquiry

In its first statement, issued on Saturday, the hospital said it had suspended the doctor while it carried out an internal investigation.

Reviews are also under way by the Medical Council of Thailand and independent experts.

The doctor, who is in his 70s, had worked at the hospital for more than a decade.

The hospital's second statement said its internal fact-finding had found that the doctor used inappropriate and impolite language when communicating with the patient and relatives. It said this breached hospital rules requiring staff to treat patients respectfully and was inconsistent with the Medical Council's professional ethics code.

The dismissal took effect on 19 July. The hospital said it would cooperate with the continuing investigations, assist the bereaved family, offer its deepest condolences, and accept public criticism and recommendations.

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21 July 2026