The 23 council members, who were elected on January 17, also voted for Dr Kitti Limapichat as first vice president and Dr Prasopsri Eungthavorn as second vice president, Public Health permanent secretary Prat Boonya-wongvirot said yesterday.

Dr Amnat Kusalanant will serve as secretary-general, Dr Sampan Khomrit as deputy secretary-general and Dr Wirat Panichpong as treasurer.

Somsak said the council over the next two years would strive to ensure doctors could perform their jobs happily and become a force the public could rely on.

The council would work to create good understanding and trust between the medical profession and public.

Communications would also be improved with patients about health issues, limitations about various treatments and patients' responsibilities and cooperation to try to achieve the best results, he said.

The council would try to protect good doctors and advise them on legal matters so they wouldn't face job-related criminal charges, except for cases of intentional offences and recklessness.

The council would seek to set a ceiling for compensation in lawsuits against the medical profession and a fund to assist those who suffer unsuccessful medical treatment, Somsak said.

It would also call for a special court for malpractice actions with the participation of medical experts and non-physician representatives such as members of the Law Society of Thailand.

The new court would conduct training about treatment limitations for judges and public prosecutors, and have attorneys advise doctors about what to do when they are sued.

Somsak said some 300 complaints were lodged with the council in the past year.

One-third of them had grounds for further investigation while the rest were blamed on "patients' misunderstanding".