PUBLISHED: 8 Sep 2024 at 17:00
In a bold and controversial move, the director of Mongkutwattana Hospital in Bangkok has announced a plan to confine smokers within his facilities in “gas chambers” until they fully inhale their cigarette smoke. This action aims to reinforce the hospital’s strict smoking ban.
Maj Gen Dr Rienthong Nanna shared this radical approach on his social media account, stating that the hospital will repurpose donated public telephone booths, originally provided for Covid-19 screening, to implement this strategy.
According to his announcement, these booths will serve as “gas chambers” designed to contain the smoke, allowing only smokers to suffer the consequences of their actions without contaminating the surrounding environment.
“In these innovative gas chambers, individuals who violate the smoking prohibition at Mongkutwattana Hospital will fully inhale the smoke from their own cigarettes. The design ensures that smoke remains inside, preventing harm to the general public while adversely affecting only the smokers,” Dr. Rienthong explained.
The booths are outfitted with sensors that detect smoke; the doors will unlock automatically once the smoke dissipates, allowing the offending smokers to exit.
Dr. Rienthong emphasized a shift from punitive measures to a more creative solution, stating he would cease the practice of confronting “selfish” smokers directly.
This announcement follows a previous incident where he gained attention for physically confronting a teenager caught smoking in the hospital, an act that resulted in legal ramifications. Notably, the teenager was reportedly found in possession of illegal substances during that encounter.
The director’s firm stance is aimed at safeguarding the health of patients and visitors, as cigarette smoke can severely impact air quality within the hospital’s ventilation systems.
