Medical council move attacked by victims' network
The Network of Victims of Medical Malpractice objected Wednesday to a Medical Council plan it believes will allow doctors to deny patients treatment in non-emergency cases.
Members of the network laid a mock funeral wreath for the council and carried banners condemning it. "It's clear the Medical Council protects doctors rather than patients," network chairwoman Preeyanant Lorsermwatthan said. A recent council announcement called "Facts about Medicine" said that for the "benefit of patients, medical practitioners may refuse to treat patients who are not in need of immediate treatment and not in life-threatening condition but must give proper recommendations or make proper referrals". Council secretary-general Dr Pinij Kulavanich explained the announcement was for the benefit of patients as well as doctors. "Read the announcement carefully and you will understand," he said, adding the council had not protected doctors for unsound reasons. "But we should provide justice for doctors, too. In some areas, a single doctor has to take care of 100 patients in a very limited time," he said. Pinij said the council would consider an amendment at its next meeting. In a related development, Leena Jang Foundation chairwoman Leena Jangjanya complained to the Public Health Ministry that her 86-year-old mother suffered a broken kneecap as a result of alleged malpractice by an unlicensed doctor. who she identified as Chudej Chuenchom. The Nation
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