Bangkok: Relatives of a deceased man have filed a complaint against a hospital for allegedly misdiagnosing a severe neck injury as a minor lip scratch, resulting in the man's death. The incident has sparked a call for an investigation into the treatment process.
According to Thai News Agency, the grandchildren of Mr. Pan, aged 50, sought the intervention of Mr. Ekkapop Lueangprasert, founder of the Sai Mai Must Survive page, after their uncle fell from a dam near the Rangsit Canal and was initially misdiagnosed by a private hospital in Pathum Thani Province. Despite his pleas for further medical attention under the social security scheme, the hospital discharged him, citing only minor abrasions.
Ms. Chadathorn, the deceased's niece, recounted the sequence of events, explaining that Mr. Pan had gone to meet friends near the dam on March 21, 2015, when he fell from a two-meter height and sustained serious injuries. Although rescue workers transported him to the hospital, the medical staff dismissed his symptoms as non-serious. Despite Mr. Pan's complaints of numbness and immobility, the hospital prematurely discharged him.
Concerns grew as Mr. Pan's condition worsened. His relatives sought help from a family member who is a nurse, leading them to Samut Prakan Hospital. There, a CT scan revealed a fractured cervical vertebra and pinched nerve, necessitating immediate surgery. Although the hospital under the social security scheme eventually accepted him back for surgery, complications arose, and Mr. Pan succumbed to his injuries on April 24.
The family expressed dissatisfaction with the initial hospital's handling of the situation, attributing Mr. Pan's death to delayed and inadequate treatment. They are now demanding accountability and clarity regarding the medical assessment and procedures undertaken.
Mr. Ekkapop announced plans to coordinate with the Ministry of Public Health to investigate potential lapses in the treatment process. He emphasized the need to identify any procedural or technological failings that contributed to the oversight. The family, accompanied by Mr. Ekkapop, intends to meet with officials at the Ministry to seek answers and ensure that similar incidents are prevented in the future.