Thailand suspends 2 doctors over ex-PM Thaksin’s hospital stay

The doctors were involved in issuing medical certificates for Thaksin, with supposed discrepancies between their reports and his condition

Thailand’s Medical Council suspended two doctors on Thursday over alleged ethical violations linked to treatment given to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra following his return from exile.

Thaksin, 75, returned to Thailand in August 2023 after more than a decade overseas and was sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power upon arrival.

However, he was transferred almost immediately from a detention centre to a private room in Bangkok’s Police General Hospital for health reasons and never spent a night in a cell.

His transfer, and the timing of his return, which coincided with his Pheu Thai party forming a new government, fuelled public suspicion of a back room deal and allegations of special treatment.

The Medical Council of Thailand said its ethics committee voted to suspend two doctors involved in issuing medical certificates for the former premier, citing discrepancies between their reports and his actual condition.

“It is a consequence of a sub-par professional work,” the council’s vice-president Prasit Watanapa told reporters after the meeting.

He said that a third doctor who was involved in less “severe consequences” will receive a letter of warning.

“It is indeed a very harsh punishment for any doctors,” he added, without saying how long the suspensions would last.

The disciplinary decision will be submitted to the minister of public health for final approval.

Thailand’s Supreme Court announced last week it will investigate whether Thaksin’s sentence was properly served, and has summoned hospital and prison officials for questioning.

Thaksin, who had said he would retire from politics after returning, has remained active, campaigning in provincial elections for Pheu Thai and recently volunteering in informal trade discussions with the United States, according to Thai media.

While Thaksin remains popular with his support base, he has long been disliked by Thailand’s pro-royalist and military establishment.

He is due to appear in court in July over a separate royal defamation case linked to his 2015 interview with a South Korean media outlet.