Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin has set up a 10-member panel to consider the Medical Council’s resolution regarding the treatment of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, by medical personnel at the Corrections Department’s hospital and the Police General Hospital (PGH).
The panel will advise Somsak, in his capacity as a special chairman of the Medical Council, on how to respond to the council’s resolution.
The resolution was received by Public Health Vice Minister Thanakrit Chitarirat, on behalf of Somsak, on Thursday. He has 15 days to respond to the council.
Somsak can endorse or veto the council’s resolution. If he vetoes it, the resolution will return to the council for reconsideration. The council requires two-thirds of the votes of all council members to overturn the veto and to uphold its resolution.
On May 8th, the Medical Council decided to warn one doctor for not performing his position as a medical professional to the required standard and to temporarily suspend the medical licenses of two doctors for discrepancies in the medical records pertaining to the claimed illnesses of Thaksin.
Former chief doctor at the PGH, Pol Lt-Gen Sophonrat Singhacharu, and the incumbent, Pol Lt-Gen Thaweesilp Wechwitarn, have separately lodged appeals to Justice Minister Somsak.
