A hospital in Ratchaburi has dismissed a 72-year-old doctor accused of refusing to properly examine a patient who later died of a heart attack, while the Social Security Office (SSO) has approved 400,000 baht in compensation for the victim's family.
The dismissal came after San Camillo Hospital completed an internal investigation into the case, which sparked widespread public outrage after the patient's wife, a well-known local teacher and social media influencer, alleged that the doctor refused to perform a basic electrocardiogram (ECG) despite her husband's symptoms.
The victim, 30-year-old 'Phanupong', died after being sent home from the hospital. An autopsy later found that he had acute coronary artery disease, with two major coronary arteries severely blocked.
His wife, Benyaporn Panpetch, better known online as 'Kru Sai', said that her husband sought treatment after suffering severe pain radiating from his arm to his chest, accompanied by excessive sweating.
She claimed that, although an orthopedic doctor suspected a heart problem and referred him to a general practitioner, the doctor refused to order an ECG, insisting that the symptoms were caused by stress or a panic attack.
She said the family even offered to pay for the test themselves or transfer him to another hospital, but their requests were rejected. Phanupong died later that evening at home.
The family subsequently filed complaints with healthcare authorities, alleging medical negligence and calling for an investigation into the hospital's treatment procedures.
In its second public statement, issued on Monday, San Camillo Hospital said that its internal inquiry had found that the doctor had communicated with the patient and his family using inappropriate and impolite language.
The hospital said the doctor's conduct violated its employment regulations, which require staff to behave courteously and refrain from actions that could damage the hospital's reputation, as well as the Medical Council's code of professional ethics.
The hospital therefore decided to terminate the doctor's employment, effective July 19.
It also expressed its deepest condolences to the victim's family and pledged to provide all possible assistance, while continuing to cooperate with investigations by external agencies, including the Medical Council.
Separately, the Social Security Office announced on Monday that its subcommittee on preliminary medical compensation had approved 400,000 baht in financial assistance for Phanupong's heirs, the maximum amount allowed under the Social Security Act's compensation scheme for deaths resulting from medical treatment.
Nakarin Pinpathomrat, director of the Medical Service System Management Bureau and deputy spokesman for the Social Security Office, said that the subcommittee reached the decision after reviewing medical records, documents and expert opinions at a meeting on July 20.
He stressed that the payment is intended as preliminary financial relief for the family and does not determine legal liability.
