Ministry to file charges against hospital for refusing dying woman

[snoop1130]

Ministry to file charges against hospital for refusing dying woman

By Jintamas Saksornchai, Staff Reporter

 

Chorlada Tarawan’s family mourns Nov. 13 at her home in Khon Kaen.

 

BANGKOK — The Health Ministry said Tuesday it would file several criminal charges against Praram 2 Hospital over alleged malpractice for turning away a dying woman who had been burned with acid.

 

A ministry investigation found hospital administrators and operators failed to maintain standards and potentially breached five regulations, factors that may have contributed to the death earlier this month of Chorladda Tarawan, according to Nattawuth Prasertsiripong, a ministry director general.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2018/11/20/ministry-to-file-charges-against-hospital-for-refusing-dying-woman/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-11-20

[Sheryl]

 

Legislation was enacted a year or two ago requiring private hospitals to accept "30 baht" and SS cases in emergencies and provide care for up to 72 hours or until they are stable enough to be transferred,  without charge to the patient (the private hospitals receive a reimbursement from the HMSO or SS for doing so, but of course at a level far below their usual rates).  They have, however, blatantly ignored this rule and continue to either dun patients/families to pay the private hospital rate or, if the poatient/family can't pay, then   refuse to treat the patient.

 

About time something was done. Too bad it took a death to make it happen.

[webfact]

Hospital faces lawsuit over acid-attack victim

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

Praram 2 nurses may also face action for not ensuring proper treatment.
 

THE HEALTH Service Support Department (HSSD) will sue Praram 2 Hospital over its handling of an acid-attack victim who passed away on November 9 shortly after seeking its services.

 

“Our fact-finding panel has concluded that there are grounds to believe Praram 2 Hospital might have violated laws or committed as many as five legal offences,” HSSD director-general Nattawuth Prasertsiripong said yesterday.

 

The 15-member panel has reviewed evidence and testimonies from various sides, including the victim’s family and the hospital’s representatives. 

 

On November 9, 38-year-old Chorladda Tharawan came to Praram 2 Hospital in a taxi at dawn with acid injuries on her face. But she left soon after in another taxi to seek treatment at Bang Mod Hospital, where she was entitled to free treatment, and where she was pronounced dead.

 

Several questions emerged as to whether Praram 2 should be held responsible for Choladda’s death.

 

According to the fact-finding panel, the operator of Praram 2 Hospital allegedly failed to ensure that licensed medical workers provided services within their fields of expertise as only its nurses checked and diagnosed Chorladda’s condition without involving a doctor.

 

The panel also pointed out that the hospital might have failed to ensure medical workers complied with the laws, as no doctor saw the patient despite the seriousness of Chorladda’s condition. 

 

In addition, the hospital apparently did not follow guidelines about how to categorise emergency patients and neither did it deliver proper medical help to an emergency patient. 

 

The panel also said that Praram 2 Hospital did not ensure a proper transfer of the patient, as it did not issue a referral letter. 

 

“We will lodge a complaint with police to bring the case to court,” Nattawuth said. 

 

If convicted of all these alleged offences, the operator of Praram 2 Hospital will face both a fine and a jail term. Most of these offences are punishable by a jail term of up to two years, and a maximum fine of Bt40,000.

 

Nattawuth said nurses involved in the case were also found to have failed to comply with standard practices and ethical rules, because they did not consult doctors in handling Chorladda’s case.

 

“We will complain to the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council,” he said.

 

He added that the HSSD had already ordered a temporary closure of the outpatient building of Praram 2 Hospital, pending its compliance with laws. 

 

“It has operated the outpatient building at a modified structure without seeking a proper permit,” Nattawuth said. 

He said the hospital had 15 days to seek a proper permit. 

 

“If it does not come forward, we may consider revoking its operating licence,” he said. 

 

Asked whether Praram 2 Hospital had any doctor on duty at the time of Chorladda’s arrival, Nattawuth said documents showed there was a doctor in service but no one brought Chorladda’s case to his attention.

 

Chorladda’s husband is currently under detention for pouring acid on her face while she was sleeping.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30358976

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-21

[CALSinCM]

Hopefully after they're done with the hospital they turn their sights on her dirt-bag husband who caused her death in the first place.   But in the meantime, they seriously need to overhaul the private hospital network.  At a minimum, they should be required to stabilize any emergency that comes through their doors.  So it will be good if Praram 2 is made into an object lesson. 

Edited November 21, 2018 by CALSinCM

[Sheryl]

He has already been arrested


And law already exists requiring stabiluzation of emergencies. In fact they are required to provide emergency care to people covered by the 40 baht scheme and SS scheme for up to 72 hours or until medically stable, whichever comes first, and a mechanism is in place for govt to reimburse them for doing do (ar govt set rate not full pvt hosp charge).

The problem is thst existing laws are not enforced.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[from the home of CC]

If not for the book of face these actions wouldn't of happened.

[fvw53]

18 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Legislation was enacted a year or two ago requiring private hospitals to accept "30 baht" and SS cases in emergencies and provide care for up to 72 hours or until they are stable enough to be transferred,  without charge to the patient (the private hospitals receive a reimbursement from the HMSO or SS for doing so, but of course at a level far below their usual rates).  They have, however, blatantly ignored this rule and continue to either dun patients/families to pay the private hospital rate or, if the poatient/family can't pay, then   refuse to treat the patient.

 

About time something was done. Too bad it took a death to make it happen.

When will people understand that private hospitals are not in the business of providing health care ...but in the business of making money ?....

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, fvw53 said:

When will people understand that private hospitals are not in the business of providing health care ...but in the business of making money ?....

?? You might as well say "grocery stores aren't in the business of providing groceries, they are in the business of making money".  Private hospitals  are in the business of making money by providing health care.  It is reasonable to expect them to do so and hold them to certain standards just as you expect a grocery store to stock and sell groceries etc.

 

More to the point, they  are subject to the law, and to relevant regulations. Which as explained, require them to treat people in emergencies, require certain levels of staffing etc etc.

 

 

[Tailwagsdog]

Its almost like a scene from a black comedy. .. 'Yes we know youre dying but we need you to fill in this form, get it co signed by your next of kin, provide us with your credit cards, id & how it happened' then someone can attend to you'

Poor woman you didn't deserve this. Now send the husband to hell!