Thai Council To Look Into Doctors' Role In Surrogate Mothers Scam

SURROGATE MOTHERS

Council to look into doctors' role in scam

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Four medics, two private hospitals said to be involved

The Medical Council of Thailand will take up the case of four doctors suspected of having had a role in an unlawful scam involving surrogate mothers.

Council chairman Dr Amnart Kusalanant said yesterday it would investigate possible violations of the medical ethics code.

Two of the doctors are suspects in the surrogate mother scam, and the other two are private hospital directors.

"We still do not know whether they are involved in the scam or not. We need more time to collect information about any wrongful actions," he said.

The council did not reveal the names of the four medical men or the two private hospitals supposedly involved in the scam.

Amnart said the council would invite representatives from medical royal colleges to provide information about the suspected wrongdoing. It is now waiting for evidence concerning medical institutes that allegedly conducted the scam.

If found guilty, they could face disciplinary punishment such as warnings, or a suspension or withdrawal of their medical licences.

The council's disciplinary panel will hold a meeting to study whether the doctors had also violated the medical code.

A source from the Social Development and Human Security Ministry said the ministry is considering sending all 15 Vietnamese women back to their country after agencies have finished their investigations into the cases.

"There are three pregnant women who will each give birth to baby in the near future. We hope they could return home next week after the Court finishes its legal questioning," a source who wanted to be unnamed said.

Presiding over a meeting of 11 agencies in a bid to resolve the issue, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said they had come up with a resolution that the scam was an offence committed outside the country, as it involved mostly foreigners and a human trafficking case.

The case will be investigated by the Attorney General and the Immigration Bureau Thailand.

-- The Nation 2011-03-11