Praram 2 Hospital in Bangkok will face multiple legal actions for rejecting a woman who had been attacked with acid and who died shortly after being sent away, the Health Service Support Department announced on Tuesday.
Director-general Nathawut Prasertsiripong said the management of the private hospital failed to ensure there was a doctor on duty around-the-clock to provide emergency service. Other staff were left in charge instead.
The offence carries a maximum prison term of two years and/or a fine of 40,000 baht.
Dr Nathawut said the hospital management also failed to make out a report on the injured woman, to issue a letter referring the patient to another hospital and to provide the patient with appropriate transport. That made them liable to a maximum prison term of one year and/or a fine of 20,000 baht.
The management of Praram 2 Hospital also failed to act in a professional manner to treat a patient whose life was in danger, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and/or a fine of 40,000 baht.
These offences were in breach of the laws governing hospitals.
If the management of the hospital fails to correct these issues within 15 days it risks losing its operating licence, Dr Nathawut said.
The Health Service Support Department was responding to a complaint brought by law activist Atchariya Ruengratanapong and the family of Chorlada Tarawan, 38, who had acid poured over her face and into her mouth by her jealous new husband in Bangkok on Nov 10. Mr Atchariya said there was no doctor on duty at the hospital when Ms Chorlada needed emergency treatment.
Her 12-year-old daughter rushed her to Praram 2 Hospital by taxi. Once there, a nurse gave them 40 baht to catch another taxi to another hospital where she would be covered by government health insurance. She died in agony shortly afterwards.
Dr Nathawut said the finding was made by the department's complaints sub-committee comprising experts from organisations in the government and the private sectors, including the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, the Office of the Attorney-General and the Private Hospitals Association.
The decision was based on medical documents, security camera footage and testimony of hospital staff.
The department also found that Praram 2 Hospital had illegally converted its parking lot into an outpatients unit. This building had already been closed, Dr Nathawut said.
