Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has instructed its representative in Bangkok to investigate a car accident, in which an injured Taiwanese tourist was allegedly denied medical treatment by a hospital and died while being transferred to another.

Taiwan News online reported that the ministry also expressed its concern over the matter to the Thailand Trade and Economic Office in Taipei and asked them to convey its request to take the matter seriously to the Thai government.

Details of the accident are still unclear, but initial reports state that a person called “Chen” was a victim of a hit-and-run accident on Pattanakarn Road at about 2am on December 8.

Rescuers rushed Chen, who was still alive, to a private hospital only 500 meters from the scene of the accident. Staff there allegedly refused to admit Chen, despite his severe injuries, because he was a foreigner.

He was then taken to a state hospital about 10km away, a journey during which he succumbed to his injuries.

His tour group reported him missing the following morning, only to learn that he had died in a road accident.

Chen’s death came to light after a Taiwanese media outlet posted the story online, which spread to Thailand.

It is reported that police have arrested the 51-year-old driver, who drove away instead of helping Chen. He was allegedly intoxicated.

Upon learning of the case, Thailand’s Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew ordered an investigation, stating that a hospital cannot deny medical treatment to an emergency patient.

Cholnan said hospital staff denying treatment to a critically ill emergency patient could face a jail term of up to two years and/or fines of up to Bt40,000.

Cholnan also admitted today that the incident could affect the confidence of foreign tourists visiting Thailand and, since Thailand is a major tourist destination for Taiwanese holidaymakers, the government must take full responsibility and demonstrate publicly that it will solve the problem and prevent a reoccurrence.

Dr. Sura Wisetsak, director-general of the Department of Health Service Support, will visit the hospital in question today, with representatives from the National Institute for Emergency Medicine, to gather information.

Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol expressed her condolences to the family of the victim. She said that she has assigned officials from the Tourism Assistance Centre and Tourist Police to take care of and facilitate those in the group tour.

by Marisa Chimprabha