SISAKET: Two hospital staff members have been charged following the fatal assault of a patient undergoing treatment for alcohol withdrawal at Kantharalak Hospital. The staff, who reported to police acknowledging their involvement, insisted they did not intend to cause harm but aimed to restrain the patient.
According to Thai News Agency, the victim, Mr. Sa-at Boonla, aged 31, was treated for alcohol withdrawal symptoms when he was violently subdued by the staff as he tried to leave the quarantine room. The confrontation led to Mr. Sa-at being thrown to the floor, where one staff member used his arm to press the patient’s face, resulting in severe injuries, including bruising, facial swelling, and bleeding wounds. Mr. Sa-at succumbed to his injuries after four days in the hospital, on December 7th.
The two staff members, identified as Mr. Thakdanai and Mr. Anupap, presented themselves at Kantharalak Police Station. Mr. Thakdanai, seen in footage wearing a short-sleeved blue shirt, reportedly struck Mr. Sa-at
in the face multiple times. Mr. Anupap, dressed in a light blue hospital uniform, was seen holding the patient’s arm during the incident. While Mr. Anupap expressed remorse and stated that he only intended to stop the patient, Mr. Thakdanai refrained from commenting.
The authorities have charged the pair with serious offenses of jointly causing physical harm resulting in death. The case has raised concerns about the handling of patients in medical facilities and the measures taken to ensure their safety.