Civic group calls for medical body reform

The Thai Medical Error Network (TMEN), a civic group, is pressing ahead with its call for reform of the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) by having “outsiders” take part in the council.

The network yesterday submitted a petition, signed by 15,000 supporters, to the National Legislative Assembly, asking for it to propose to amend the 1982 Medical Profession Act.

TMEN president Preeyanan Lorsermvattana said the network called for a major adjustment of the MCT’s structure.

The number of members of the council should be cut from the current 56, and 50% of these members should be outsiders who are not medical doctors, Ms Preeyanan said.

Out of the current members of the council, 28 are appointed members who are public health officials such as the permanent secretary for public health, she said. The other 28 members are medical professionals elected by their peers, she said.

Ms Preeyanan said the current composition of the council was to blame for bias among medical doctors when it came to council rulings on disputes between patients and doctors.

TMEN also aims to petition Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to exercise his power under Section 44 to suspend the next election of the council’s members that is due early next year.

MCT member Ittaporn Kanacharoen insisted outsiders such as lawyers already form part of the council’s subcommittee on medical ethics. They include former judges, lawyers and public prosecutors.

In addition, most MCT members are socially well-respected people such as deans of state medical schools, directorsgeneral and permanent secretaries.

“These people would definitely not allow their reputations to be tarnished by any bias,” he said.

Dr Ittaporn admitted there are many complaints about problems in medical treatment, about 200 cases a year.

However, he said the number is very low compared to the 2 million cases which are successful.

“We realise that people have high expectations for the MCT [in handling cases of conflict between patients and medical professionals],” he said.