Chiang Rai hospital error leads to death of woman in dental surgery
A family in the northern province of Chiang Rai is seeking compensation from a private hospital for the death of a Thai woman who suffocated during dental surgery.
The deceased, 33 year old Katesuda Buanark, passed away at a private hospital in Chiang Rai on December 19 last year. Katesuda primarily resided in Singapore with her husband and nine year old daughter. She had returned to her home province on December 12 to visit her family.
On December 19, Katesuda rode a motorcycle to attend her nephew’s sports event at school. During her journey back home, she crashed her motorcycle and sustained minor injuries, including bruises, scratches, and damage to her front teeth.
As Katesuda worked part-time in Singapore as a traditional Thai dancer, her family was concerned that her damaged teeth might affect her work. So, they transferred her from a state hospital to a private one for dental surgery.
The doctor assured the family that the procedure would be brief. Tragically, Katesuda died during the operation. The medical team admitted to an error involving the oxygen tube, which left Katesuda without oxygen for five minutes, resulting in her death.
The hospital promised to compensate the family for their loss but did not confirm the amount or timeline for payment. They also requested documentation regarding Katesuda’s income, which further frustrated the family.
Speaking to Channel 7, the family expressed that no amount of compensation could ever replace Katesuda. She was the family’s breadwinner and cared for her young daughter.
Channel 7 reported that Katesuda’s husband is currently gathering the necessary documents and plans to travel to Thailand to attend her funeral and pursue accountability from the hospital.
In a related story, a Thai transwoman is seeking justice and 700,000 baht in compensation from a beauty clinic in Bangkok following a failed gender affirmation surgery, which left her defecating through her abdomen.
The transgender woman revealed that the doctor failed to provide any post-operative care advice. After engaging in sexual activity with her boyfriend, she discovered that her artificial vaginal canal had torn.
Although the doctor attempted to repair the damage, her condition did not improve, and she now requires funds to consult a new specialist.
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