PETITION SEEKS EXCLUSION OF MEDICS FROM CONSUMER ACT

“Since the law took effect in 2008, a lot of lawsuits have been filed against medical workers, affecting their treatment of patients,” said Dr Amnat Kusalanant, president of the Medical Council.
He and 20 medical workers handed their request to House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont to change Article 3 of the act so that medical malpractice that led to the injury or death of a patient would be punishable under criminal law instead.
Currently, patients can sue medical workers more easily under the act than under civil or criminal law. They do not have to pay the county’s fee. They also can make an oral statement while the defendants have to show all evidence and bring witnesses to prove their innocence, he said.
According to Public Health Ministry records, from 1996 to this year, 181 civil cases have been filed and 24 criminal cases. Of them, 14 cases have been forwarded to the Appeals Court.
From 2008 to this year, 82 cases were filed under the Consumer Case Procedure Act.
Saree Ongsomwang, secretary-general of the Foundation for Consumers, disagreed with the council about revising the law, saying medical treatment was a commercial service that could affect not only patients but also consumers.
Somsak said he would check the name list and speed up the consideration of the law’s proposed amendment.