Thai health officials charge fake doctor over illegal clinic

Thai health officials have taken legal action against Thananon Hiranchaiwan, also known as Boss Doctor Ek, for falsely claiming to be a medical doctor and operating a clinic without proper authorisation.

Earlier today, the Health Ministry, led by Assistant Minister Thanakrit Jitrariyaprat, along with Ittiporn Kanacharoen, Secretary-General of the Medical Council, and Panawat Panket, Director-General of the Department of Health Service Support, filed a complaint with the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD).

Thanakrit revealed that Thananon had been portraying himself as a physician, sharing images and videos on social media platforms, which led to public confusion and unease. This prompted complaints to the Ministry of Public Health and the Medical Council.

The Medical Council confirmed that Thananon is not listed in their registry as a certified medical doctor. The investigation revealed that he graduated in medical technology, which does not qualify him to practice medicine or treat patients, reported KhaoSod.

Due to these findings, the officials proceeded with legal action against him for violating the Medical Profession Act of 1982 and the Healthcare Facilities Act of 1998, said Thanakrit.

“The Medical Council has confirmed that Boss Doctor Ek is not registered as a certified doctor. This makes him an unlicensed practitioner.”

Tomorrow, officials will inspect two locations associated with Boss Doctor Ek to verify if they have the necessary permits to operate as medical facilities. The case has drawn significant attention due to the potential risks posed to public health by unlicensed medical practitioners, said Ittiporn.

“After yesterday’s filing, we discovered more violations related to the Healthcare Facilities Act.”

The Ministry of Public Health will work in tandem with the Medical Council to address these violations.

In related news, police arrested a woman posing as a beauty doctor at a hotel in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area. She was caught administering fillers and Botox, making up to 40,000 baht per month by arranging appointments through Facebook.