Doctors defend decision

"What's more important than treating diseases is to prevent them," Dr Sutep Gonlachanvit said.

At least nine colleagues from Chulalongkorn Hospital and 30 doctors from Chiang Mai have agreed to deny treatment to police and soldiers from the bloody clashes, he said.

"Our decision is not based on emotions. We just intend to stop people in power from abusing their power," he said.

While their refusal to treat patients had faced criticism that discrimination was against medical ethics, it was unacceptable that police still used tear gas to disperse PAD crowds later on Tuesday

after the morning round of tear gas had already killed and maimed people, he said.

"This argument doesn't carry much significance given that what we're trying to do is to end the violence," he said.

A banner reading "The Faculty of Psychiatry condemns the use of violence against people. We demand that the tyrant government steps down"will soon be flying in front of Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry, Dr Kasem Tantipalacheeva said.

"We won't treat police who show up in their uniform. But if they come in as general people, we will provide treatment," he said.