Hospital director accused of assaulting teen for smoking

A disturbing incident unfolded at Mongkutwattana Hospital yesterday, where the director, Doctor Rianthong Nanna, is accused of physically assaulting a 14 year old boy and ordering him to strip naked as punishment for smoking in the hospital’s restroom.

The case, which has escalated to a formal complaint by the boy’s mother, raises serious questions about the appropriate measures for enforcing hospital rules and the boundaries of disciplinary action.

The event transpired when the teenager was caught smoking in the outpatient department’s restroom on the first floor of Building 3, an area with a strict no-smoking policy.

The smoke not only violated hospital regulations but also infiltrated the air conditioning system, impacting patients waiting in the area.

Dr Rianthong, in a social media post, expressed his firm approach towards violators of the hospital’s no-smoking policy. He detailed his intervention against the boy, which included slapping, confiscation of the mobile phone, and expulsion from the premises.

The director defended his actions as necessary to protect other patients and prevent potential fire hazards. The hospital, he stated, had already experienced two fire incidents in 2015 and 2021 due to smoking on the premises.

The situation further escalated when the teenager reportedly returned with a group of motorcyclists, intimidating staff and patients at the hospital entrance. Dr Rianthong remained unfazed, claiming indifference to the threats and denying allegations that he caused the boy any physical harm beyond the disciplinary measures already mentioned.

In his public declaration, Dr Rianthong stressed that the hospital will not tolerate unruly behaviour, particularly from those who endanger the health and safety of others through actions like smoking.

He emphasised that Mongkutwattana Hospital aims to provide a safe and respectful environment for all patients and will not compromise on these standards. With this, The public must weigh the importance of maintaining a smoke-free healthcare facility against the actions taken by Dr Rianthong and whether they were justified or an overstep.

This case has sparked a debate on the limits of authority and the protection of individual rights, especially those of minors, even with the complexity of the battle against smoking in prohibited areas in mind.