(Bangkok, 13th) The Thai Medical Council has upheld the disciplinary action against doctors who treated former Prime Minister Thaksin, and this is expected to impact the Supreme Court's examination of whether Thaksin's hospitalization during his sentence was illegal. This may also lead to Thaksin being sentenced to prison again.
Previously, the Medical Council disciplined three doctors regarding the transfer of Thaksin to a police hospital during his sentencing in 2023. They were accused of abusing their authority by issuing medical certificates that permitted Thaksin's transfer from prison to a private room at Bangkok Police General Hospital, allowing him to avoid serving his sentence in prison until his pardon and parole.
Health Minister Anutin of the Pheu Thai Party opposed the Medical Council's action. However, on Thursday (June 12th), the Medical Council decided to uphold the disciplinary action against the three doctors with over two-thirds approval.
According to the Bangkok Post, Medical Council Vice President Basit stated that the decision to uphold the original verdict was based on medical principles, evidence, and reasoning.
In the disciplinary action, two of the doctors who issued medical certificates for Thaksin had their medical licenses temporarily revoked because their reports did not match Thaksin's actual medical condition. Another doctor received a warning. The authorities did not specify the duration for which the two doctors' licenses would be revoked. Both doctors denied any wrongdoing.
The latest decision by the Medical Council might stir up Thai politics. The Thai Supreme Court will begin hearing whether Thaksin's hospitalization was illegal or giving undue privileges on Friday (13th) and is expected to consider the Medical Council's decision.
In August 2023, after returning from his self-imposed exile, Thaksin was sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power but later received a royal pardon reducing the sentence to one year. On his first night in prison, he was transferred to a private hospital room due to health reasons and was paroled until last February, never truly serving time in a prison cell.
If found guilty of unlawful hospitalization, 75-year-old Thaksin may be sentenced to imprisonment again. Some analyses suggest that an adverse ruling could bring more trouble to his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn, and the Pheu Thai Party, potentially resulting in a public trust crisis toward the Prime Minister and the government.
Assistant Professor Wanwisa of Rangsit University told Reuters: "The Prime Minister is already facing a crisis of confidence... Many feel the government is unable to handle all the crises facing the country."
Aside from the Thaksin case, Paetongtarn's government is also dealing with a border dispute with Cambodia and calls for a cabinet reshuffle from alliance parties, posing challenges to the Pheu Thai-led coalition government.
The Nation cited Pheu Thai Party sources indicating that Paetongtarn is about to reshuffle the cabinet, with Pheu Thai's Deputy Prime Minister Prasit taking on the role of Interior Minister, in addition to being the Minister of Digital Economy and Society. Anutin, the original Interior Minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, remains a Deputy Prime Minister but will now serve as Minister of Commerce.
Anutin had previously expressed refusal to relinquish the Interior Minister role, and if the reshuffle news is true, it will heighten tensions between Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai parties.
Previously, the Medical Council disciplined three doctors regarding the transfer of Thaksin to a police hospital during his sentencing in 2023. They were accused of abusing their authority by issuing medical certificates that permitted Thaksin's transfer from prison to a private room at Bangkok Police General Hospital, allowing him to avoid serving his sentence in prison until his pardon and parole.
Health Minister Anutin of the Pheu Thai Party opposed the Medical Council's action. However, on Thursday (June 12th), the Medical Council decided to uphold the disciplinary action against the three doctors with over two-thirds approval.
According to the Bangkok Post, Medical Council Vice President Basit stated that the decision to uphold the original verdict was based on medical principles, evidence, and reasoning.
In the disciplinary action, two of the doctors who issued medical certificates for Thaksin had their medical licenses temporarily revoked because their reports did not match Thaksin's actual medical condition. Another doctor received a warning. The authorities did not specify the duration for which the two doctors' licenses would be revoked. Both doctors denied any wrongdoing.
The latest decision by the Medical Council might stir up Thai politics. The Thai Supreme Court will begin hearing whether Thaksin's hospitalization was illegal or giving undue privileges on Friday (13th) and is expected to consider the Medical Council's decision.
In August 2023, after returning from his self-imposed exile, Thaksin was sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power but later received a royal pardon reducing the sentence to one year. On his first night in prison, he was transferred to a private hospital room due to health reasons and was paroled until last February, never truly serving time in a prison cell.
If found guilty of unlawful hospitalization, 75-year-old Thaksin may be sentenced to imprisonment again. Some analyses suggest that an adverse ruling could bring more trouble to his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn, and the Pheu Thai Party, potentially resulting in a public trust crisis toward the Prime Minister and the government.
Assistant Professor Wanwisa of Rangsit University told Reuters: "The Prime Minister is already facing a crisis of confidence... Many feel the government is unable to handle all the crises facing the country."
Aside from the Thaksin case, Paetongtarn's government is also dealing with a border dispute with Cambodia and calls for a cabinet reshuffle from alliance parties, posing challenges to the Pheu Thai-led coalition government.
The Nation cited Pheu Thai Party sources indicating that Paetongtarn is about to reshuffle the cabinet, with Pheu Thai's Deputy Prime Minister Prasit taking on the role of Interior Minister, in addition to being the Minister of Digital Economy and Society. Anutin, the original Interior Minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, remains a Deputy Prime Minister but will now serve as Minister of Commerce.
Anutin had previously expressed refusal to relinquish the Interior Minister role, and if the reshuffle news is true, it will heighten tensions between Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai parties.