Medical professionals at Chulalongkorn University support the investigation by the Medical Council of Thailand
Chulalongkorn University senior physicians have voiced their support for the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) after it took disciplinary action against three doctors who issued medical certificates for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The MCT's suspension and warning letters were issued following an investigation that concluded the doctors' certificates misrepresented Thaksin's medical condition, enabling his extended hospital stay rather than serving prison time.
A group of 41 doctors, alumni from Chulalongkorn University's 27th medical class, issued a statement extolling the MCT's ruling as principled and courageous. They commended the council for adhering to professional ethics despite potential political pressure and applauded the decision for preserving public trust in the medical profession.
The MCT has maintained that the doctors breached ethical standards by failing to perform proper diagnoses. The alleged misbehavior allowed Thaksin to spend six months at the Police General Hospital (PGH) instead of serving his sentence in prison.
Recipients of the disciplinary measures have appealed the MCT's decision, leading to the formation of a review committee by Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. The minister's critics argue the committee's actions appear intended to undermine the council's authority under the pretext of procedural review.
As for the MCT, member Dr. Amorn Leelarasamee stated that the council has already submitted all necessary documents and possesses sufficient evidence. Minister Somsak, who is also the MCT's president, is expected to make a final determination after the committee's assessment, with the authority to either endorse or reject the MCT's ruling under the Medical Profession Act. The clash highlights the ongoing tension between professional integrity within the medical field and political interference.
The ongoing issue between the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) and the involved doctors has raised concerns in various sectors, with representatives from health-and-wellness and science fields applauding the MCT's stance on professional ethics. Meanwhile, political analysts and general-news outlets have addressed the potential political implications, focusing on the tension between maintaining public trust and political interference in medical-conditions matters.
