Tourist dies after being refused treatment at BKK private hospital - Tim Newton Today - Dec 13

[webfact]

 

Thailand news - Thais and Taiwanese media are shocked at a private hospital in Bangkok refusing emergency treatment for a critically injured patient and sending him off to another hospital. He died before reaching the second hospital. Thai exports sluggish this year but an excellent Motor Expo result for Toyota and Chinese EV brands.

 

A Russian man, dressed only in skimpy shorts, ended up standing on a balcony at Phuket Airport, speed-dating event in Bangkok this weekend, another day of poor air quality for Bangkok and central Thailand, if you make more than 100 phone calls a day, the NBTC will suspend your phone number, and four police have been suspended pending an investigation over an alleged rape of a woman in Pathum Thani.

 

Tim Newton Today is a daily take on Thai and regional news and issues of interest to expats and foreign tourists.

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

Did we not just got to read recently, that by Thai law, any hospital needs to accept patients, for at least the first 72 hours of medical care, regardless of insurance / money. If so, that means the hospital is liable to the foreigners death, and some people should be prosecuted? But this is Thailand.

 

This is so extremely concerning, because if you unexpectedly get an accident, when you least expect it (and likely have least documents on you), you could be knocked out, unable to tell you are 'rich' or have the best insurance, nobody knows what happened to you, and then before you know, death.

 

People then always say, yeah but I carry this thing in my wallet and it's always on me. I don't believe this is a guarantee, many times there is communication and hassle for the insurance companies too, that could still lead to being refused at a private hospital, even that should be prevented with the law above.

Edited December 13, 2023 by ChaiyaTH

[it is what it is]

 

The Hippocratic Oath, “I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgement; I will abstain from harming or wronging any man by it,” orders doctors to do their best in their job and not use their skill or knowledge to harm or kill their patients.

[ChaiyaTH]

2 minutes ago, it is what it is said:

The Hippocratic Oath, “I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgement; I will abstain from harming or wronging any man by it,” orders doctors to do their best in their job and not use their skill or knowledge to harm or kill their patients.

If Thailand cared about any of human rights, many things would need to change. But there is a law that says they need to accept any patient for the initial 72 hours, in emergency situations.

Edited December 13, 2023 by ChaiyaTH

[roo860]

2 minutes ago, it is what it is said:

 

The Hippocratic Oath, “I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgement; I will abstain from harming or wronging any man by it,” orders doctors to do their best in their job and not use their skill or knowledge to harm or kill their patients.

More like Hippopotamus oath in Thailand. 

[jacko45k]

5 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Did we not just got to read recently, that by Thai law, any hospital needs to accept patients, for at least the first 72 hours of medical care, regardless of insurance / money. If so, that means the hospital is liable to the foreigners death, and some people should be prosecuted? But this is Thailand.

I thought there was at least an obligation to stabilize a patient in an Emergency situation.

[NoDisplayName]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Taiwanese media are shocked at a private hospital in Bangkok refusing emergency treatment for a critically injured patient and sending him off to another hospital. He died before reaching the second hospital.

 

How are those Chinese Baidu searches going for "Will I die if I vacation in Thailand?"

[ChaiyaTH]

1 minute ago, jacko45k said:

I thought there was at least an obligation to stabilize a patient in an Emergency situation.

It should be anywhere, even in wartime. As so often, Thailand has the laws, they are just rarely enforced.

Edited December 13, 2023 by ChaiyaTH

[marcusb]

7 years ago went into a private hospital, retina had detached. They said they could get me in the operating room in an hour. But first Mr Marcus we must check your credit cards. They checked the limits on my cards and prepped me for surgery. I have no doubt they would have turned me away if credit check failed. 

[jonclark]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

I thought there was at least an obligation to stabilize a patient in an Emergency situation.

This story has been all over Thai social media and the vast majority of poster (aka netizens) are uttely aghast at this - as its common practice for Thais to be rejected from private hostipals too when i accidents. 

The law (think its called the sanatorium act?) states that all hospitals private or otherwise (if nearest)  must provide 72 hours of treatment in emergency situations before transferring the patient - unless the patient wishes to remain - the cost will be paid / reimbursed by the government (or patient)

The hospital which is named after a major (group of) roads in bangkok and has a digit in it title - refused the admission as they could not be sure the patient could pay as he lacked identifying documnets - probably translates as to - he had no credit card. The hospital was totally in the worng and I wish the deceased family every success in suing the arse out of the hospital.

Edited December 13, 2023 by jonclark

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

It should be anywhere, even in wartime. As so often, Thailand has the laws, they are just rarely enforced.

 

Agree with everything you have written in this thread. 

 

The only way this will improve is to hold those responsible accountable for gross negligence. 

They 'deliberately; failed in their responsibility to stabilise a patient which directly led to his death.

 

Disgusting actions on all involved - from the emergency room staff, to the administrators of the hospital who instigate this culture. 

 

I hope this costs the hospital so much money that no hospital ever dare act this way again in future. 

 

 

 

[sirineou]

This will do wonders for Thailand's reputation around the world. 

Then they wonder why tourism is down. 

[freeworld]

2 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

The Hippocratic Oath, “I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgement; I will abstain from harming or wronging any man by it,” orders doctors to do their best in their job and not use their skill or knowledge to harm or kill their patients.

That ship sailed a long time ago.

 

Govts now manipulate the laws in their favour for a certain outcome and money now overrides that Hippocratic oath.

Edited December 13, 2023 by freeworld

[bwanajohn]

Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath not hospital administrators.

[soalbundy]

Pretty disgusting behaviour but there are opposite examples. About 15 years ago I went to Ram 1 in Chiang mai for some blood tests, I sat outside the lab, next to me a Thai man. A doctor came and spoke to the Thai man telling him that he needed treatment for cancer (not very private but they probably assumed I couldn't speak Thai). The patient who had been waiting for the results of his tests was devastated when the doc told him the approximate cost would be 400K, he said he couldn't pay that much. The doc said he wasn't to worry they would treat him any way and he could pay in affordable monthly installments.

[John Drake]

I did find interesting Tim Newton's otherwise totally unrelated "recommendation" of a hospital at 6:11.

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

The Hippocratic Oath, “I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgement; I will abstain from harming or wronging any man by it,” orders doctors to do their best in their job and not use their skill or knowledge to harm or kill their patients.

 

Well, this is Thailand, where the first question is: "Do you have money (or insurance)?", and the second is: "Are you Thai, or a foreigner?", and the answers to both questions will determine if/how they treat you, and 'how much'... 

[StayinThailand2much]

15 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

The doc said he wasn't to worry they would treat him any way and he could pay in affordable monthly installments.

 

Wonder, if the patient was a foreigner, whether they would allow monthly installments too...

[JimTripper]

20 minutes ago, bwanajohn said:

Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath not hospital administrators.

3 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

The Hippocratic Oath, “ I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgment; I will abstain from harming or wronging any man by it ,” orders doctors to do their best in their job and not use their skill or knowledge to harm or kill their patients.

 

I'm pretty sure the oath applies only after accepting the patient, or working on the patient. Refusing care, or just passing an injured person on the sidewalk, does not fall under the "do no harm" clause to my understanding.

Edited December 13, 2023 by JimTripper

[Gknrd]

Possibly the hospital thought he was Thai, if so probably standard operating procedure for the hospital.

[BangkokHank]

And all the Thai authorities are going to be concerned about is the damage to Thailand's reputation  - and not the unnecessary death of this unfortunate accident victim.

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, BangkokHank said:

And all the Thai authorities are going to be concerned about is the damage to Thailand's reputation  - and not the unnecessary death of this unfortunate accident victim.

 

Sad, but true. Never about the tourists in Thailand, but only about their money. No wonder, that many only visit once.

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Sad, but true. Never about the tourists in Thailand, but only about their money. No wonder, that many only visit once.

 

And the bigger irony is that the Thai Medical industry makes Billions directly from foreigners... meanwhile the cost burden of unpaid foreigners bills is Millions and relatively insignificant when compared... 

Edited December 13, 2023 by richard_smith237

[LosLobo]

Thailand already collects entry fees from travellers to help 'solve the problem of unpaid medical bills left behind by foreigners who suffered illness, injury, or death during their time in Thailand'.

 

Thailand's new entry fee – boon or bust for tourism? | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

Edited December 13, 2023 by LosLobo

[richard_smith237]

19 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

Thailand already collects entry fees from travellers to help 'solve the problem of unpaid medical bills left behind by foreigners who suffered illness, injury, or death during their time in Thailand'.

 

Thailand's new entry fee – boon or bust for tourism? | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

 

Are you sure about that ??????   

 

 

 

 

[Elkski]

This should result in prison time for some officials plus the appropriate western financial amount.  Like 120- 800 million baht

[delgarcon]

I'm so glad that this hospital has shown its true colours to the rest of the World. A few years back I was sent there by speed boat and ambulance from KP and wheeled straight into ICU having had a suspected heart attack. Along comes a nurse with a clipboard asking me to sign an admittance form agreeing to pay 68000 tbh PER NIGHT for the pleasure of staying. It was Saturday night and I asked the nurse when would I see the cardiologist. Not before Tuesday she replied, there's not a cardiologist on the Island before then. Fortunately I had recovered somewhat and was able to work out that I would be racking up a bill for 200000 tbh having my blood pressure checked for the next 3 nights while waiting for the cardiologist. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I got my gf to call a taxi and take me to the state hospital, where I spent the night. I was given the OK and discharged the following morning and the bill, including medication was less than 7000tbh.

Thankfully I was more fortunate than the poor Taiwanese.

[stoutfella]

Ah, using the US medical system as a model.

[Road Warrior]

22 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

The Hippocratic Oath, “I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgement; I will abstain from harming or wronging any man by it,” orders doctors to do their best in their job and not use their skill or knowledge to harm or kill their patients.

should add no money   !!!!!!!!!!!!