Ethics Investigation Launched into Medical Treatment of Former Prime Minister
PUBLISHED: 19 Dec 2024 at 16:29
The Medical Council of Thailand is demanding comprehensive documentation from a major hospital regarding the health and treatment of Thaksin Shinawatra, the country’s former prime minister. This request comes amid accusations suggesting that special privileges were granted to allow his extended stay at the hospital instead of serving time in prison.
A sub-committee, led by Dr. Amorn Leelarasamee, is spearheading an ethical investigation to ascertain whether healthcare professionals violated any ethical protocols in relation to Thaksin’s circumstances. A formal request for information was dispatched to the hospital’s management earlier this week.
The inquiry calls for detailed records of Thaksin’s hospitalization, including names of all medical staff involved in his treatment, their accounts regarding his care, and any certified medical documents spanning the entire duration of his stay from admission to discharge.
The Medical Council has set a deadline for the requested information to be submitted by January 15.
In a related development, political activists have congregated at the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s office, urging a swift conclusion to the investigation surrounding Thaksin’s hospital stay, which they claim should be completed within three months. They highlighted inconsistencies in Thaksin’s health claims, noting his active participation in social activities shortly after leaving the hospital.
Thaksin financed his six-month stay, including costs associated with a VIP room, which was reported to be priced at 8,500 baht per night, according to recent parliamentary disclosures.
Thaksin returned to Thailand on August 22 after a lengthy period in self-imposed exile, whereupon he was sentenced by the Supreme Court to eight years in prison for corruption-related offenses from his time as prime minister prior to 2006. This sentence was later commuted to one year following royal clemency.
Following his initial incarceration, medical evaluations revealed that he required hospitalization due to chest pains, hypertension, and low blood oxygen levels. Initially, he was authorized for 120 days of medical treatment outside prison; however, it was extended to 180 days on grounds of health risks posed by prison conditions.
Thaksin was ultimately paroled and discharged from the hospital on February 18, citing age and health concerns. Public appearances soon after revealed him engaging in various activities, which some observers argue contradicts past claims about his health status.
Thaksin completed his one-year prison sentence on August 31 of this year, and since then, he has been actively campaigning for the Pheu Thai Party, which is associated with his daughter, the current prime minister.
