Disorderly roadway conduct by medical professional leads to job termination; unresolved compensation disagreement between practitioner and injured party remains unresolved.
Going, Going, Goodbye Nong Bua Daeng Hospital Director
After a boozy brawl that left two cameramen nursing injuries, Nong Bua Daeng Hospital's director, Dr Phuttha Samadchai, has decided to kickstart his retirement earlier than planned. Instead of serving out his remaining term at the district hospital in Nong Bua Daeng, he's trading in his scrubs for a rocking chair.
Addressing the media on Thursday, Dr Phuttha confessed he was calling it a day to dodge possibly getting slapped with charges for drink-driving. In a cruel twist of fate, his career's twilight became a lot grimier when he drove a Public Health Ministry vehicle into a roadside shop in Muang district on Wednesday night.
The victims of his reckless ride were 33-year-old Aes Eiampha from Amarin TV and 35-year-old Thossawat Inpook from Thairath TV. He had the audacity to refuse a breathalyzer test for a whopping three hours post-crash. A blood test later revealed his alcohol level at a whopping 119 milligrammes per 100 millilitres - far exceeding Thailand's legal limit of 50.
However, his retirement plans are far from set in stone. The ministry still needs to sign off on it, and in case they don't, the embattled doctor might not be eligible for all those sweet state retirement benefits. Much like a hangover, the consequences of his actions just won't go away.
If the ministry decides to give him the heave-ho, he could wave goodbye to his benefits if found guilty in their investigation or during a court battle on the charges. The police at Muang police station have stayed their hand on pressing charges, waiting for the results of the blood test for alcohol from Chaiyaphum Hospital and medical reports of the two injured TV crew members.
The hospital director was handed a transfer over to the Chaiyaphum's Provincial Public Health Office, and the police are playing mediator between him and the two injured TV crew members. As for any financial compensation, Dr Puttha met with Thossawat of Thairath TV on Thursday with a proposed payment of 300,000 baht, but the TV cameraman reportedly deemed the offer too low. The next round of negotiations is set for May 15, with Amarin TV’s Aes joining the fray as he continues to nurse his injuries.
The incident has stirred up a hornets' nest of criticism over accountability for public officials. Dr Phuttha might be saying adieu to his job, but his staying power in the public eye certainly doesn't seem to be waning.
- The police at Muang police station are waiting for the results of the blood test for alcohol from Chaiyaphum Hospital and medical reports of the two injured TV crew members before pressing charges against Dr Phuttha.
- Dr Phuttha's retirement plans might be jeopardized if the Public Health Ministry doesn't approve his retirement and he is found guilty in the investigation or during a court battle on the charges.
- The embattled hospital director is currently handing over his responsibilities to the Chaiyaphum's Provincial Public Health Office while the police mediate between him and the two injured TV crew members.
- Despite his planned retirement, Dr Phuttha remains a topic of general-news and health-and-wellness discussions due to the boozy brawl incident that left two cameramen injured.
