A SOUTH Korean doctor working in Thailand with a proper licence was arrested at a beauty clinic in the heart of Bangkok just as he was treating a patient, TV Channel 7 said this evening (Oct. 11).
Dr. Phanuwat Panket, head of Department of Health Services, and representatives from the Medical Council of Thailand accompanied a team of policemen in raiding this clinic and upon entering saw the South Korean doctor touching the face of a patient.
Investigation revealed that the South Korean doctor only treated patients who came through an agency
He has been charged with violating the Medical Profession Act B.E.2525 (1982) for practising medicine without registration and permission with this punishable by maximum three years in jail and/or a fine not exceeding 30,000 baht.
Dr. Topol Wattana, an assistant to the Medical Council of Thailand, said evidence will be collected to file charges against the operators of this clinic for negligence and allowing an unlicensed professional to work there with this punishable by maximum two years in jail and/or 40,000 baht.
The council will be collecting and submitting evidence to the Consumer Protection Police to summon the South Korean doctor for questioning. Immigration Police too will be alerted to prevent him from leaving Thailand but should he somehow manage to do so, Interpol will be notified.
Dr. Akom Pradit Suwan, deputy chief of the Department of Health Services, said beauty clinics wanting to bring foreign doctors here for treatment must follow the law. They must first get permission from either the department or the public health office in their area to do so and the doctors who come here have to first pass an exam to get a professional licence to practise in Thailand.
Not doing so is considered to be using the services of a quack doctor with both clinic operators and doctor facing penalties, he added.
CAPTION:
Police raiding a beauty clinic in Pathum Wan district where a South Korean doctor was caught treating a patient. Photo: TV Channel 7
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