On May 30, at the Parliament, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin addressed the media about his controversial decision to veto the Thai Medical Council’s disciplinary actions against four physicians involved in the hospitalization of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on the 14th floor of a hospital.
Somsak explained that the disciplinary process involved three subcommittees: Ethics, Fact-Finding, and Ethical Review. The four doctors under review were Dr. Watchai Mingbanjerdsuk, Dr. Ruamthip Suphanan, Pol. Lt. Gen. Dr. Sophonrat Singha, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin. Following investigation, one doctor was found not guilty, one was reprimanded, another was formally warned, and one more was cleared.
Somsak emphasized that his decisions were based primarily on the findings of the fact-finding committee. He requested additional information from the Ethics Screening Committee but did not receive it, thus he relied on the available data. He believed some judgments lacked legal grounding, particularly regarding the corrections department’s authority over inmate transfers.
He stressed that he wasn’t interfering politically and reiterated that the ethical screening board did not share its full findings with the main board. He warned that introducing new standards for punishing physicians would create widespread issues and maintained that his veto upheld fairness.
Asked if he feared losing credibility or being removed from office by a mobilized group of doctors, Somsak remained unfazed, citing over 40 years of political experience. He said he was not disturbed by threats and felt confident he acted transparently and justly.
When asked whether there was political interference or a “directive” to influence the case, especially regarding Thaksin’s upcoming court appearance on June 13, Somsak firmly denied it, stating: “No one can order me.” He also denied having spoken to Thaksin about the case, mentioning only a brief exchange about a leaked chat clip.