Investigation of Confidential Discussions Regarding Somsak's Office Under Scrutiny
Chat Update: Health Minister's Aide Says Probe on Leaked Chats Legal
In a recent chat, an assistant to the public health minister stated that an investigation into the ethical conduct of doctors and members of the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) regarding former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's health would be in line with the law.
Trichada Srithada, a spokeswoman for the Public Health Ministry, confirmed that the office of Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin possesses the authority to solicit collaboration from the MCT and the cyber crime police to delve into the leaks. Trichada emphasized that this action was necessitated by a complaint urging an investigation.
Her statement follows Dr. Tul Sitthisomwong, a member of the MCT and a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine, questioning whether Mr. Somsak could initiate an ethics inquiry due to its indirect connection to professional medical law.
Trichada clarified that Dr. Tul had misunderstood the MCT's authority to probe the leaked chats. The MCT bears the duty to uphold professional ethics, particularly in instances that could harm the medical profession's reputation, she stated.
The spokeswoman also defended Mr. Somsak's power to nullify the MCT's resolution to penalize three doctors implicated in Thaksin's hospitalization. According to the law governing professional medicine, the public health minister, who serves as the MCT's Honorary President, is accorded such authority, she explained.
Trichada urged all parties to abstain from lobbying or exerting pressure on the MCT ahead of its June 12 meeting, where the council will decide whether to sustain its original ruling or reconsider it following the minister's veto.
"The MCT members are elected and must discharge their legal responsibilities transparently. Under the law, the Honorary President's role is to offer checks and balances. The process should proceed unobstructed, and those not directly involved should maintain a distance and avoid sowings seeds of confusion," Trichada said.
The leaked chats contained opinions about Thaksin's health condition during his hospital stay. There have been accusations of political bias against the doctors, while others defended their right to express personal opinions within a private forum. According to Dr. Tul, the chat messages were inappropriately disseminated by Thanakrit Jitareerat, an assistant to the public health minister.
While the current status of the investigation, as stated, does not explicitly reference the leaked chat messages, recent events have revolved around the disciplinary actions against the doctors involved in Thaksin's treatment. Here's a concise overview of the related circumstances:
- Medical Council Decision: On May 8, 2025, the Medical Council ruled that three doctors had violated medical ethics in managing Thaksin's case. The council proposed punishment but withheld the doctors' identities.
- Health Minister's Veto: On May 10, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin vetoed the Medical Council's decision to sanction the doctors. He cited an investigation subcommittee's findings, suggesting that the council's final ruling was lacking in new evidence or compelling reasons.
- Medical Council Meeting: The Medical Council convened on June 12, 2025, to finalize its ruling on the disciplinary actions against the doctors. The council reaffirmed its commitment to professional ethics in the face of external pressure.
- Implications and Next Steps: Minister Somsak's veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority of the Medical Council's 70-member board. The case is politically charged and stands to influence Thailand's medical governance and ethics standards.
- The health minister's office has the authority to collaborate with the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) and the cyber crime police to investigate the leaked chats, which discuss medical-conditions, particularly about former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's health, as it falls under the law.
- The leaked chats, containing opinions about a political figure's health, have raised discussions on the boundary between personal opinions expressed in private forums and professional obligations, stirring debates in science, politics, and general-news arenas.
