Singer did not die from massage: Minister

PUBLIC Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin today (Dec.9) denied that a Thai singer died after a masseuse twisted her neck pointing out that Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan did not show any fractures or dislocation while a doctor had diagnosed that she was suffering from spinal meningitis that led to a bloodstream infection, TV Channel 7 said this evening.

He urged the public to be confident that her death is not related to massage.

Somsak said a report he received stated that Ms. Chanida Phraohom, or Phing Chanida, had been sick and in pain for several days since Oct. 5 this year and went to a hospital for a check-up on Oct. 28. Thereafter she was in and out of the hospital many times.

An X-ray and an MRI scan were performed and they clearly showed that her death was not related to massage, he said, adding he wanted to be fair to all sides.

She underwent treatment at Udon Thani Hospital’s orthopedic department during Nov. 6-11 and as her arms and legs were weak an MRI scan was performed with this not showing any fractures or dislocation in her neck.

A spinal tap revealed that she was suffering from spinal meningitis which was treated with medication and after that her condition improved. so she returned home to rest.

However she later started getting spasms with her condition deteriorating so was admitted to this hospital’s ICU but went into a shock from bloodstream infection and died yesterday,

Asked how he was going to build confidence in massage because this is linked to traditional Thai medicine, Somsak replied that people should be confident because the MRI scan is clear.

Photo: Amarin TV