Nakhon Pathom hospital faces mistaken identity probe
Nakhon Pathom Hospital is under scrutiny for mistakenly discharging a terminally ill patient to the incorrect family home in Ratchaburi, before returning her to the hospital where she died.
Dr Pisit Sriprasert, inspector general of the Public Health Ministry, said on Wednesday that this was a case of mistaken identity regarding two female patients, who were both 83 years old, terminally ill and dependant on ventilated oxygen via a tracheotomy.
Pisit explained that when one of the women's conditions worsened and doctors requested her family's permission to enlarge the hole in her windpipe to increase oxygen intake, her three children made the decision to release her from hospital and allow her to die at home to limit further suffering.
Pisit said the two women were both placed in the emergency room at Nakhon Pathom Hospital in nearby beds and, as they were in a similar condition, the family mistook the wrong patient for their mother and she was then sent home to Bang Pong district in Ratchaburi at 7:30am on April 26.
The hospital realised at 9:40am that the wrong patient had been discharged and she was returned to the hospital at noon on the same day.
Pisit said that the officials responsible for discharging the patient would face punishment.
The case of mistaken identity came to light when Jidarat Huangsuwan, 27, filed a complaint with Muang Nakhon Pathom police on Tuesday.
Jidarat told the police that she believed that the hospital was responsible for the mistake that led to the death of her grandmother, La-or Suranan.
Jidarat said that when La-or was admitted to the hospital on April 22 her condition was severe and required close monitoring.