The Medical Council has launched a comprehensive investigation into the professional conduct of all doctors at the Corrections Department and Police General hospitals who were involved in the diagnosis and treatment of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra since August last year.
The council said that numerous complaints have been made by members of the public regarding the veracity and transparency of the medical personnel involved and that the council agrees that such complaints are grounded, warranting an investigation.
In a letter addressed to the chief doctor at the Police General Hospital, the Medical Council said members of the public are demanding to know whether the doctor’s certifications that Thaksin’s illnesses were serious enough to justify his stay at the Police General Hospital, for six months from August 23rd last year, rather than in a prison cell, were falsified.
The Medical Council insists that it is authorised to launch an investigation, citing Section 37 of the Medical Profession Act B.E. 2525 (1982), adding that the public has the right to accuse medical practitioners of breaching professional ethics.
A special investigation panel will gather information from all relevant personnel and units involved, the documents pertaining to the examinations of Thaksin’s alleged medical conditions and the doctors’ opinions.
The panel has demanded detailed explanations from the chief doctor at the Police General Hospital, in writing and supported by evidence, pertaining to:
• The full name of all doctors at the hospital who were involved in treatment of Thaksin and their medical license numbers.
• Full details of the treatment given to Thaksin.
• Explanations from the individual doctors who diagnosed and treated the former prime minister.
• The opinions of the doctors about Thaksin’s illnesses.
• Copies of the letters for the transfer of Thaksin from the Corrections Department’s hospital to the Police General Hospital
• Medical certificates, medical records of surgery, medication prescribed, X-ray films and results of lab tests dating back to August 25th last year.
• Other factual evidence related to this case.
All the documents related to Thaksin’s diagnosis and treatment must be submitted to the Medical Council by January 15th.
