Ambulance Refused To Photographer At Parliament: Bangkok

[webfact]

MEDICAL CARE

Ambulance refused to photographer at Parliament

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Medical staff at Parliament House yesterday refused to use an ambulance on standby to ferry a seriously ill news photographer to hospital.

Sakol Sandhiratne, who works for Nation Multimedia Group, was covering a parliamentary press conference when he collapsed.

Medics from the Parliament first-aid room were called, but firmly refused a request to dispatch the ambulance posted at Parliament.

Witnesses said officials expressed worry that they would be reprimanded if any parliamentarian were to suddenly need the ambulance.

Eventually, an ambulance from the Narenthorn Centre arrived and took Sakol to Klang Hospital, where was diagnosed with bleeding in the brain.

Senior parliamentary official Nuchsee Chaisuwan quoted Parliament President Somsak Kiartsuranon as saying there was no policy of preventing a standby ambulance from taking a patient, regardless of their role or standing, to hospital.

-- The Nation 2013-01-11

[kurnell]

Was the muay Thai on TV?

[Chao Lao Beach]

One of the 7 Ambulances in a city of 10 million.

[JurgenG]

I think it's a plot by The Nation to make us believe they really have investigative staff.

If it's true, it's probably their entire department that has been decimated

But as it was only reported in The Nation, the doubt remains.

[Scott]

I am wishing him a speedy recovery.

Bleeding on the brain can be quite serious and there probably aren't too many people in the building that have a brain on which to bleed.

[canuckamuck]

It sucks when you are on the wrong side of the class divide.

Obviously the photographer ranked too low to make saving his life more important than the remote possibility that someone important may potentially need to go to the hospital. It is OK to let someone die if you are attempting to save face. Perhaps they teach that in school as part of the Thainess curriculum?

Face trumps life in LOS. That is why no one pulls over for ambulances here either. Too much face to lose by letting someone pass.

Edited January 11, 2013 by canuckamuck

[Ricardo]

I guess some sick people are more equal than others ?

Hope he's OK.

[moe666]

I think it's a plot by The Nation to make us believe they really have investigative staff.

If it's true, it's probably their entire department that has been decimated

But as it was only reported in The Nation, the doubt remains.

Your post makes little sense at all, covering a press conference has little to do with investigative reporting

[craigt3365]

I think it's a plot by The Nation to make us believe they really have investigative staff.

If it's true, it's probably their entire department that has been decimated

But as it was only reported in The Nation, the doubt remains.

It's been reported by other news agencies as well...not just The Nation.

[EyesWideOpen]

I like this story, it has such a Thainess feel to it. The guy has a bleed on the brain where the time lag to the hospital is critical.

So then the " medical staff" at the first aid room refuse to use their ambulance, in case one of the more equal pigs gets sick.

Well I see that whoever made that flawed decision is already being thrown under the bus, as the higher ups move into

damage control.......

Senior parliamentary official Nuchsee Chaisuwan quoted Parliament President Somsak Kiartsuranon as saying there was no policy of preventing a standby ambulance from taking a patient, regardless of their role or standing, to hospital.

[Thai at Heart]

I like this story, it has such a Thainess feel to it. The guy has a bleed on the brain where the time lag to the hospital is critical.

So then the " medical staff" at the first aid room refuse to use their ambulance, in case one of the more equal pigs gets sick.

Well I see that whoever made that flawed decision is already being thrown under the bus, as the higher ups move into

damage control.......

Senior parliamentary official Nuchsee Chaisuwan quoted Parliament President Somsak Kiartsuranon as saying there was no policy of preventing a standby ambulance from taking a patient, regardless of their role or standing, to hospital.

Indeed, there is no official piece of paper with it written down, it's just understood that that is the way it is. We aren't officially above the people, but it's important that the people know it.

[Moruya]

Hypocritic oath.

The government is there to server the people

[lungmi]

Ineptocracy at all levels. The medical staff must be kicked out (including their teachers). Refusing first aid for a collapsed human is against the rules for paramedics.

[chooka]

This is Satire right? This couldn't possibly be true in a developed country like Thailand. A person in need of the ambulance can't use it because somebody may be in need of it. <deleted>. I thought ambulances were for all regardless of class, religion or race. You have a perfectly good ambulance probably the most up to date and staffed by probably the best paramedics in the land sitting there gathering dust whilst a person in need is refused use. Tax dollars being reserved and spent on a few lazy politicians.

What stopped them using this ambulance for the photographer and whilst he is being conveyed another ambulance could be enroute to parliarment in case Yingluck breaks a fingernail.

Edited January 11, 2013 by chooka

[muttley]

I like this story, it has such a Thainess feel to it. The guy has a bleed on the brain where the time lag to the hospital is critical.

So then the " medical staff" at the first aid room refuse to use their ambulance, in case one of the more equal pigs gets sick.

Well I see that whoever made that flawed decision is already being thrown under the bus, as the higher ups move into

damage control.......

Senior parliamentary official Nuchsee Chaisuwan quoted Parliament President Somsak Kiartsuranon as saying there was no policy of preventing a standby ambulance from taking a patient, regardless of their role or standing, to hospital.

Indeed, there is no official piece of paper with it written down, it's just understood that that is the way it is. We aren't officially above the people, but it's important that the people know it.

Personally I think it's down to the cult of self censorship - "I can't do this because somebody will blame me".

Witnesses said officials expressed worry that they would be reprimanded if any parliamentarian were to suddenly need the ambulance.

This has been inculcated into the lower classes since the year dot. So one can see why some people want to keep the status quo in Thailand with all the power that brings, including life and death. Coincidentally one should also be able see what was really behind the events of 2009/2010, a desire to end that status quo.

[Scott]

A nonsensical exchange has been deleted. It is hard to stay on the topic in a thread like this, but please try to stay relevant at a minimum.

[FrisoPee]

Not to blame the ambulance... If they gone off with him and some high ranked boy or girl collapsed and the ambulance was not there they would have been in deepest shit ever. It's all about status, nothing to do with the ambulance not 'willing' to help him I suppose.

[MILT]

I am wishing him a speedy recovery.

Bleeding on the brain can be quite serious and there probably aren't too many people in the building that have a brain on which to bleed.

I agree and I too wish him a speedy and full recovery. What a thankless and F*cked up assignment to have to be around all those holes.

[spiritrace]

As a low life bottom feeder, I see things are not very different here in the US.....Politicians achieve Diety status.....

[SOTIRIOS]

....one word......criminal.....

(....and someone posted something on the 'class divide'......most politicians are barely human.....never mind 'higher class'.....)

.....if we were all of so low moral standards we would all be rich....

[Buchholz]

I think it's a plot by The Nation to make us believe they really have investigative staff.

If it's true, it's probably their entire department that has been decimated

But as it was only reported in The Nation, the doubt remains.

It's been reported by other news agencies as well...not just The Nation.

It's the new standard for the forum.

If there's not multiple articles from a variety of news sources posted in a single thread, the event never happened.

.

[Stjohnm]

Stop the Presses !!!!!!The Nation have a Reporter!!!!!!!! but seriously I hope they guy gets better. If this reporting is accurate its disgraceful they should second guess using the standby Ambulance in such a case.

[wans]

its fear, if they had used the ambulance somebody most likely would have got slapped round the face for it

[Scott]

A post with an inappropriate name of a politician has been deleted.

[TackyToo]

I guess some sick people are more equal than others ?

Hope he's OK.

Maybe the most equal poeple are those who are the really sick ones

[bigbamboo]

What did he do.......take a photo of Yingluck when she wasn't ready?

[rubl]

I like this story, it has such a Thainess feel to it. The guy has a bleed on the brain where the time lag to the hospital is critical.

So then the " medical staff" at the first aid room refuse to use their ambulance, in case one of the more equal pigs gets sick.

Well I see that whoever made that flawed decision is already being thrown under the bus, as the higher ups move into

damage control.......

Senior parliamentary official Nuchsee Chaisuwan quoted Parliament President Somsak Kiartsuranon as saying there was no policy of preventing a standby ambulance from taking a patient, regardless of their role or standing, to hospital.

Indeed, there is no official piece of paper with it written down, it's just understood that that is the way it is. We aren't officially above the people, but it's important that the people know it.

Personally I think it's down to the cult of self censorship - "I can't do this because somebody will blame me".

Witnesses said officials expressed worry that they would be reprimanded if any parliamentarian were to suddenly need the ambulance.

This has been inculcated into the lower classes since the year dot. So one can see why some people want to keep the status quo in Thailand with all the power that brings, including life and death. Coincidentally one should also be able see what was really behind the events of 2009/2010, a desire to end that status quo.

All about democracy, equalness for the law, 'bread and games' and such like.

Anyway, hope the reporter didn't suffer real brain damage and will speedily recover to be able to report some more and help the lower classes to be educated

[rixalex]

This has been inculcated into the lower classes since the year dot. So one can see why some people want to keep the status quo in Thailand with all the power that brings, including life and death. Coincidentally one should also be able see what was really behind the events of 2009/2010, a desire to end that status quo.

If bringing the staus quo to an end was the motivation and justification for the events of 2009 and 2010, this story shows you - what many of us incidentally have been saying all along - that this elite group currently in charge are every bit as in favour of keeping the status quo as any elite group before them were. No change.

[rixalex]

On the subject of special treatment for the elites.... never mind populist hand out policies, can you imagine the tidal wave of public support that would greet the first political group that insisted their politicians not be treated preferentially in any way. For example, refusing to use police escorts to avoid traffic jams, refusing to have streets in Bangkok closed during rush hour causing massive tail-backs, just so their precious MPs get home in time for tea. Declaring that if everyone else has to suffer Bangkok traffic jams, they will too. Gestures like this wouldn't cost a penny, but would i think win the hearts of many.

[khunken]

It's sad to see a few (red?) posters making a political case out of this article. As he's a Nation photographer it's hardly surprising that the Nation reported it. I hope the medical staff there get a rocket up their proverbials.