President Somsak Lohlekha yesterday said the announcement was based on opinions from relevant parties, including the deans of medical schools, the Pharmacy Council, Thailand Nursing Council, the Dental Council and more than 1,000 doctors across the country.

One part said that for the "benefit of patients, medical practitioners may refuse to treat patients who are not in need of immediate treatment and not in life-threatening condition but must give proper recommendations or make proper referrals". It also stated that "sometimes in medical treatment procedures, unwanted circumstances occur despite sufficient caution and care by the medical profession and that shall be regarded as a force majeure".

Somsak yesterday insisted that the announcement aimed to inform patients of what they should know.

"Some diseases are incurable. Don't think that treatments can prevent death in all cases.

"When doctors are not specialists in any particular disease, they should have the right to reject cases," he said.

When doctors are brought to court, they are usually asked why they go ahead with treatment despite not being specialists," he said.

The press conference is scheduled for 10am.