Prime Minister anticipates receipt of update about the hospitalization of his father.
Informal Revision:
Title: The 14th Floor Fiasco: Thaksin Shinawatra's Mysterious Hospital Stay
In the heart of the Thai political scene, the treatment of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during his jail term at Police General Hospital has stirred a whirlwind of controversy. Here's a sidewalk chat about the juicy details.
The controversy kicked off when the octogenarian Thaksin, who'd returned to Thailand in August 2023 and was sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power, mysteriously found himself ensconced in a private room on the 14th floor of Police General Hospital—a move that set off alarm bells, suggesting special treatment. Unsurprisingly, Thaksin never saw the inside of a cell.
As the rumors swirled, the Medical Council of Thailand stepped in, investigating the medical certificates issued for Thaksin. Turns out, there were some discrepancies between the health conditions reported and the physicians' actual findings, leading to penalties against some of the involved doctors.
Three doctors, in particular, faced repercussions for their role in Thaksin's extended hospital stay. One doctor just got a stern talking-to for falling short of professional standards. The other two, however, had the rug pulled out from under them—suspension of their medical licenses for peddling inaccurate information. The length of the suspensions is still up in the air, pending the green light from the Minister of Public Health.
The scandal has quickly become a political hot potato, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin's daughter, vigorously defending her father's health situation. According to her, Thaksin underwent surgeries during his hospital stay. Still, the public remains skeptical, questioning the timeline of events, which seems to align with the formation of a new government by Thaksin's party.
Jatuporn Prompan, leader of the activist network People's Unity Group, has weighed in on social media, suggesting that two doctors at the police hospital might find their medical licenses on the chopping block. Five more doctors from Corrections Hospital may also be added to the list, with the potential for more severe punishment.
Note: The "14th floor saga" paints a questionable picture of Thaksin Shinawatra's time in Police General Hospital.
[1]: [Reuters (2023) “Thaksin Shinawatra hospital stay disputed in Thailand,” accessed 5/15/2023 at https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thaksin-shinawatra-hospital-stay-disputed-thailand-2023-05-15/]
[2]: [Bangkok Post (2023) "Medical council finds discrepancies in falsified documents used by Thaksin's doctors," accessed 5/15/2023 at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2119720/medical-council-finds-discrepancies-in-falsified-documents-used-by-thaksin-s-doctors]
- The 14th floor saga involving Thaksin Shinawatra's hospital stay at Police General Hospital has led to speculation about special treatment and raised questions about policy and legislation in Thai politics.
- Amidst the ongoing controversy, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her father's health policies have become a focus of general news, with public skepticism growing over the timeline of Thaksin's surgeries and their potential connection to war-and-conflicts within politics.
- The Medical Council of Thailand found discrepancies in the medical certificates issued for Thaksin, leading to the submission of penalties against some doctors, and suspension of the medical licenses of three doctors who facilitated Thaksin's extended hospital stay.
- The scandal involving Thaksin's doctors may escalate, as activists like Jatuporn Prompan suggest that more doctors, including those from Corrections Hospital, might also face disciplinary action for their roles in the affair.
