Taiwan seeking answers over hit and run death in Bangkok

[snoop1130]

 

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has instructed its representative in Bangkok to investigate a car accident, in which an injured Taiwanese tourist was allegedly denied medical treatment by a hospital and died while being transferred to another.

 

Taiwan News online reported that the ministry also expressed its concern over the matter to the Thailand Trade and Economic Office in Taipei and asked them to convey its request to take the matter seriously to the Thai government.

 

Details of the accident are still unclear, but initial reports state that a person called “Chen” was a victim of a hit-and-run accident on Pattanakarn Road at about 2am on December 8.

 

Rescuers rushed Chen, who was still alive, to a private hospital only 500 meters from the scene of the accident. Staff there allegedly refused to admit Chen, despite his severe injuries, because he was a foreigner.

 

He was then taken to a state hospital about 10km away, a journey during which he succumbed to his injuries.

 

His tour group reported him missing the following morning, only to learn that he had died in a road accident.

 

Chen’s death came to light after a Taiwanese media outlet posted the story online, which spread to Thailand.

Top Photo by TVBS, Taiwan

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-12-13

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[Tropicalevo]

Quote

Thailand’s Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew ordered an investigation, stating that a hospital cannot deny medical treatment to an emergency patient.

This has been law for quite a few years now.

It seems that someone forgot.

[stoner]

it takes a special kind of a hole to do a hit and run. 

[French mate]

"denying treatment to a critically ill emergency patient could face a jail term of up to two years and/or fines of up to Bt40,000."

That alone can explain why this kind of behavior can and will keep happen here. The financial penality for the hospital is meanless compared to the potential benefit to not be left with an huge unpaid bill.
As for the 2 year jail, they will always have a low ranked scape goat to take the blame.

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by French mate

[Chris Daley]

lol Thai hospitals.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, French mate said:

That alone can explain why this kind of behavior can and will keep happen here. The financial penality for the hospital is meanless compared to the potential benefit to not be left with an huge unpaid bill.

No, it doesn't, the first 72 hours of treatment is reimbursed by the government to the hospital, so no risk.  If they're penniless, the patient can be moved elsewhere for more economic treatment subsequently. 

[Elkski]

4 years jail time for retweeting messages about the royalty but only 40k. Or a weeks pay or less for hospital admin. 

[tomazbodner]

Unnamed hospital on Pattanakarn road... well, excluding veterinary clinics, there's a gross total of 1. And you can see a big sign with its name on if you stand on Airport link platform at Huamark... Some secret!

[webfact]

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.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-12-14

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[2baht]

Disgraceful behavior, xenophobia at it worst, this should be international news, word will certainly spread from Taiwain! This is yet another incident involving Taiwanese....they won't forget this and the 24,000 baht vape extortion (of a well known actress). Spin this TAT!

 

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by 2baht

[spermwhale]

PRetty shocking. Alld doctors have sown the hypocratic oath to care for anyone who needs it. This is shocking beyond belief all because they fear not getting paid. 

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Details of the accident are still unclear, but initial reports state that a person called “Chen” was a victim of a hit-and-run accident on Pattanakarn Road at about 2am on December 8.

 

Rescuers rushed Chen, who was still alive, to a private hospital only 500 meters from the scene of the accident. Staff there allegedly refused to admit Chen, despite his severe injuries, because he was a foreigner.

And TAT wonder why tourist are staying away.

Thailand is a complete disaster.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, stoner said:

it takes a special kind of a hole to do a hit and run. 

Thailand has many.

[Phil1964]

How to win friends and influence holidaymakers...

 

[TheFishman1]

Disgraceful at best TIT

[neeray]

For all the news items I read about damaging Thailand's image, this hospital blunder epitomizes 'image damage'. This will definitely attribute to some vacant plane seats (and hotel rooms, restaurants, bars, tourist hotspots, transportation business ...............).

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, 2baht said:

Disgraceful behavior, xenophobia at it worst, this should be international news, word will certainly spread from Taiwain! This is yet another incident involving Taiwanese....they won't forget this and the 24,000 baht vape extortion (of a well known actress). Spin this TAT!

 

 

I think it already is international news, good publicity for the tourist industry, not.

[nobodysfriend]

Thailand be careful .

Your reputation as a country welcoming tourists is seriously damaged already .

Too many dead tourists .

 

[Hockeybik]

9 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

You think that the embassy is there to pick up accident victims and take them to hospital?

No, he meant that the Taiwanese Embassy is at least calling for an investigation and that he doesn't think the Canadian Embassy would do the same for one of their citizens. 

[Purdey]

Very unusual for a private hospital to refuse a "rich foreigner" . Usually, they would dispense paracetamol at the least. Maybe there is more to the story. 

[Asquith Production]

Playing devils advocate and not knowing the area I would wander what facilitates this private hospital had to deal with a serious accident victim. The accident happened around 2am a Doctor would probably have to be summonsed, all adding to delay . The staff may have thought it was better to get him to a major trauma hospital quickly. We will have to see

[Bangkok Barry]

6 minutes ago, Asquith Production said:

Playing devils advocate and not knowing the area I would wander what facilitates this private hospital had to deal with a serious accident victim. The accident happened around 2am a Doctor would probably have to be summonsed, all adding to delay . The staff may have thought it was better to get him to a major trauma hospital quickly. We will have to see

 

Good try. But Staff there allegedly refused to admit Chen, despite his severe injuries, because he was a foreigner.

[Bangkok Barry]

Fills me with confidence. If a similar incident happened to me I now know that, as a foreigner, I might be refused treatment.

 

Staff there allegedly refused to admit Chen, despite his severe injuries, because he was a foreigner.

[Expat68]

This will do more harm to Thailand tourism 

[2baht]

11 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Fills me with confidence. If a similar incident happened to me I now know that, as a foreigner, I might be refused treatment.

 

Staff there allegedly refused to admit Chen, despite his severe injuries, because he was a foreigner.

Nothing short of xenophobia! The smiles are as false as the truth!

[redwhiteandblue]

And I was only just watching some idiots on Youtube bleating on about how great the hospitals are here.

[jippytum]

10 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, it doesn't, the first 72 hours of treatment is reimbursed by the government to the hospital, so no risk.  If they're penniless, the patient can be moved elsewhere for more economic treatment subsequently. 

Why would two people post confused mojos. The comment provides correct information. 

[spidermike007]

Good on them for following this up and creating bad press over this. They were not denied treatment because they were a foreigner. They were denied treatment because they did not have a 500,000 line of credit on their credit card, nor the funds in a bank account that was connected to their smartphone. Private hospitals ask for a guarantee if it is a serious injury or illness, and you don't have an excellent health care plan. It may be illegal, unethical, and immoral, but it happens. Bad press can be a good thing. Nothing changes here for the better, without alot of egg on the face. 

[Thingamabob]

This will be noted by potential tourists to Thailand from China, Taiwan, east Asia generally, and from around the world. The days when Thais were friendly and welcoming to foreigners are long gone.

[Aussie999]

10 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

You think that the embassy is there to pick up accident victims and take them to hospital?

Mate, get OFF your high horse, it is about action taken, not picking up the victim... geez