A group of doctors led by Medical Council will today ask Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to break the draft of medical malpractice victim fund bill before put in the council's consideration to issue the law as they fear that the bill will increase the medical lawsuits against doctors in a large number.
Dr Prachumporn Boonchareon of Thai Federation of General and Central Hospital's doctors said a group of doctors from Medical Council and representatives from medical professionals will meet Abhisit at Democrat Party headquarter to oppose the plan to issue the medical malpractice victim fund.
Meanwhile, Medical Council's president Dr Somsak Lohlekha said he has asked secretary general Dr Samphan Komrit and council's vice president Dr Prasopsri Ungthavorn to meet PM today to explain about the medical personnel's opinion toward the bill as most of physicians do not agree with the bill.
"Personally, I think some of people would receive benefit from this bill," Somsak said.
The bill will allow patient to find a complaint against doctor to ask compensation when the medical treatment onducted by doctor was mistaken. If they are not pleasure with the compensation given by the fund, collect money from state and private hospital including clinics, patient also could file a criminal complaint against doctors.
"We would like to withdraw this bill from the House of Representative's consideration and carefully revise the content of the bill," Somsak added.
Dr Tapanawong Tanguraiwan of Pranangklao Hospital said a group of doctors at hospital next week will collect their names, dress in black suit and organise a protest march inise the hospital to oppose the bill.
Prachomporn added that the federation on July 30 will also organise a seminar and collect names of doctors who oppose the bill and submit to Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit.
Saree Ongsomwong of Foundation for Consumer, who advocate the bill,said most of doctor do not understand the concept and the content of the bill as they are afriad of facing criminal law suit. The bill, infact, will organise a special criminal procedure for doctor to prove themselves which is much more easy than the normal criminal procedure.
" The bill will also benefit to doctor not only patient," she said
"But it should not be revised."