Hospital Chief Admits Mistake Over Nation Photographer: Bangkok

[webfact]

Hospital chief admits mistake over Nation photographer

The Nation

Nation Multimedia Group chairman Suthichai Yoon visits Nation photographer Sakol Sandhiratne at his bedside at Klang Hospital yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- The director of a Bangkok hospital yesterday admitted that "a mistake" had been made after its medical staff stationed at Parliament refused to rush a news photographer to hospital after he collapsed on Thursday.

Phramongkutklao Hospital director Maj-General Chumpol Piemsomboon, however, denied the hospital staff were discriminatory when it came to emergency cases related to non-parliamentarians.

"We will make improvements from the suggestions obtained today, on matters such as moving patients. I admit to the mistake that happened," he told a press conference at Parliament.

There had been similar cases before, when MPs collapsed while at a House meeting and were immediately rushed to hospitals nearby.

However, Nation Group photographer Sakol Sandhiratne suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and was refused the hospital's ambulance that was on the Parliament premises on standby. His colleagues were told that the ambulance had to be on standby in case a parliamentarian needed to be taken to hospital immediately.

Sakol was later rushed to Klang Hospital by an ambulance from the Narenthorn EMS Centre, where he underwent surgery. Doctors also removed surplus liquid in his brain.

As of press time, Klang Hospital's deputy director Dr Supaporn Kornluck said the patient was still in a critical condition and had failed to respond to stimuli. "He requires further treatment and round-the-clock medical attention," she said.

Chumpol said yesterday that his hospital's medical team at Parliament had to take time to assess Sakol's condition - something that was difficult to do in a small ambulance.

However, Rajavithi Hospital's neurosurgeon Dr Methee Wongsirisuwan said yesterday that people suffering from high-blood pressure like Sakol should be taken to hospital immediately or they could risk a stroke. "Patients with high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease face a higher risk of stroke. They should be admitted immediately. Don't waste time observing primary symptoms," he said.

House of Representatives secretary-general Suvichak Nakwatcharachai yesterday voiced regrets about what happened, adding that it could have been avoided. He said he had already admonished parliamentary officials for acting slowly.

Chumpol insisted yesterday that no senior Parliament officials or politicians had ordered that the ambulance on standby not be used in this case. His comments were supported by House speaker's spokesman Wattana Sengpairoh.

-- The Nation 2013-01-12

[noitom]

It takes someone from this newspaper to make the news.

[Thai at Heart]

Guys. remember this moment. A pooyai admitted a mistake.

[OzMick]

It takes someone from this newspaper to make the news.

In quite a few newspapers and TV news reports.

[how241]

Guys. remember this moment. A pooyai admitted a mistake.

+1

[harrry]

No senior parliamentarian possibly. A junior parliamentarian very possible.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Wonder what will happen NEXT TIME???

[rixalex]

Guys. remember this moment. A pooyai admitted a mistake.

Admits mistake but throws in blatant lie:

Phramongkutklao Hospital director Maj-General Chumpol Piemsomboon, however, denied the hospital staff were discriminatory when it came to emergency cases related to non-parliamentarians.

One step fwd, two steps back.

[InActionMan]

It takes someone from this newspaper to make the news.

In quite a few newspapers and TV news reports.

What colour shirt was he wearing ?

[Nigel1500]

Imagine if Parliamentary medical staff HAD rushed this man to hospital. Irrespective of the man's condition, there would have been praise and accolades for the efforts of Thailand's most elite medical staff coming to the aid of the common man.

Unfortunately, they screwed the whole thing up.

[Credo]

Guys. remember this moment. A pooyai admitted a mistake.

Not exactly. He admitted that 'a mistake' had been made. His admission is really only that someone else made a mistake.

[annabel]

Guys. remember this moment. A pooyai admitted a mistake.

what other choice did he have after it being reported all over the local news..??

[mayday49]

Guys. remember this moment. A pooyai admitted a mistake.

what other choice did he have after it being reported all over the local news..??

Just remember that all news agents should be considered nuetral in the purpose of promoting objective observations, unless we subscribe to the fluid ethics of ambiguity ,whereby the application of less respected types of thought are applied is It a man? is he One of US ? , What is His Job ?, Will I have Face when this is Over ? Who is the Boss around HERE ?........anybody want to move to clairify what really happened , anybody want to interview the on call staff or do a PERP walk and photo ?

[binjalin]

would the US Presidents medical team rush a reporter in the same circumstances? playing Devil's Advocate what if they had and there was an incident at Parliament and they weren't there? not sure it has anything to do with who this guy reports for?

[Lite Beer]

Nation photographer still critical

Supachai Petchthewee

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- The condition of Sakol Sandhiratne, a Nation Multimedia Group photographer who collapsed at Parliament House on Thursday, was still critical last night. He has not responded to stimuli.

Sakol's blood pressure was still at a high level yesterday and was controlled by drugs, according to a doctors' report acquired by a Nation's reporter. Dr Chaiyapol Wutthiopas, a surgeon at Klang Hospital, said Sakol required further treatment and round-the-clock medical attention.

On Thursday, he was diagnosed with bleeding on the brain and underwent surgery to stop the bleeding on Thursday night. On Friday, the bleeding stopped and another operation was done to drain fluid from his brain.

Sakol collapsed when he was covering an event at Parliament House. Medical staff stationed there refused to rush him to hospital, claiming the ambulance was supposed to stand by in case MPs or senators had an emergency.

-- The Nation 2013-01-13

[rbrooks]

I assure you that that the ambulance team in America would have transported the journalist immediately to the hospital for two reasons. There is an abundance of EMT help and there would have been more than one ambulance on call and also there would of course have been a massive media hype and classic lawsuit to compensate the trajedy. In Thailand he has the apology and maybe he will get a few thousand baht in a few years if he is lucky and the next day nothing will have changed in the LOS. Mai Pen Rai.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Apart from the obvious problem that occurred here with the withheld ambulance, it seems this case also highlights the issue of seemingly so many Thais suffering from high blood pressure, and many not being properly treated for it, or making the life changes necessary to control it.

With the description of this guy's blood pressure problems as related in the various news reports, it kind of makes me wonder why he was working at that kind of hectic job in the first place... The reports above don't make it sound optimistic about the likelihood of his recovery. Sad....

Edited January 13, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[binjalin]

I assure you that that the ambulance team in America would have transported the journalist immediately to the hospital for two reasons. There is an abundance of EMT help and there would have been more than one ambulance on call and also there would of course have been a massive media hype and classic lawsuit to compensate the trajedy. In Thailand he has the apology and maybe he will get a few thousand baht in a few years if he is lucky and the next day nothing will have changed in the LOS. Mai Pen Rai.

exactly - you made my point thanks (abundance, more than one etc.) anyway let's hope he recovers