PUBLIC HEALTH / SAFEGUARDING PATIENTS FROM UNSKILLED RESCUERS

Draft medical emergency bill gets cabinet nod

ANUCHA CHAROENPO

The cabinet yesterday approved draft legislation on medical emergencies, aimed at safeguarding patients from substandard and unprofessional rescue operations. The bill, proposed by Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla, also protects the right of patients to receive emergency medical treatment from experienced rescue units. Statistics show that 10% of accident victims died or became disabled because they were rescued or transferred to hospitals by unskilled people.

Dr Mongkol said 85% of people who give first aid to accident victims and take them to hospitals are relatives or witnesses.

''These people have neither the knowledge nor skill in handling emergency patients. This can result in the patient's condition becoming worse, or even death in some cases,'' he said.

The bill requires hospitals to treat accident emergency patients even though they are unable to pay for the treatment.

In addition, the Narenthorn Centre, a state rescue unit under the ministry, will be upgraded to a bigger organisation with permanent staff and doctors to oversee rescue and emergency operations across the country. The centre currently has only temporary staff and volunteers.

While waiting for the bill to be scrutinised by the Council of State and endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly, the ministry will set up a fund to help poor patients meet the cost of emergency medical treatment, and give training for rescuers and volunteers, Dr Mongkol said.

The cabinet's endorsement of the bill came less than a month after an emergency team from Samut Prakan Hospital and a private rescue team fought over who was to deliver a patient suffering from breathing difficulties to a hospital. The brawl delayed the transfer of the patient, who died on the way to hospital. Conflicts between rescue units from different organisations have been frequent in recent years, following an increase in the number of private emergency response units.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Wednesday April 11, 2007