Stitched up: Thai man demands justice after surgery mishap

A Thai man is seeking justice for his mother after she nearly lost her life because a doctor at Thammasat University Hospital in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok left gauze in her womb during surgery for endometrial cancer.

The issue came to light after Esor News shared the story on Sunday, June 16. The page shared a picture of a piece of gauze that had been removed from the victim’s womb with a caption.

“A doctor left this gauze in the patient’s womb which caused an infection. The hospital finally admitted the doctor’s negligence and promised to provide the best care for the patient.”

The victim’s son, 37 year old Kwanchai, later revealed in an interview with Channel 7 that his mother underwent an examination after being diagnosed with stage I womb cancer.

She underwent brachytherapy, a form of internal radiation therapy, to address her cancer. On June 4th, radioactive pellets were inserted inside or adjacent to the tumour in her womb by the doctor.

However, her condition deteriorated, leading to a high fever. Kwanchai then returned his mother to the hospital for further treatment. He asserted that his mother was entitled to free treatment, but the hospital refused and insisted on payment.

Subsequently, Kwanchai opted to transfer his mother to a private hospital, where it became apparent that her condition was critical. The private hospital recommended returning her to Thammasat University Hospital, but she only received medication there before being discharged home.

Patient critical

Kwanchai then took his mother to Ang Thong Hospital in the central province of Ang Thong, but the doctor there urged him to return to Thammasat University Hospital.

On June 14, around 2am, Kwanchai’s mother experienced severe stomach pain. She coughed, and a piece of gauze unexpectedly came out of her vagina. She tried to pull it out, but it caused more pain. Kwanchai’s father cut off part of the gauze and rushed her to the hospital.

Kwanchai said Thammasat University Hospital initially denied his mother free treatment, which she was entitled to, and charged him 10,000 baht. He called a reporter, which forced the hospital to agree to his request.

Kwanchai criticised the hospital for waiting until there was media pressure before taking action. He blamed the doctor’s errors and negligence for almost causing him to lose his mother.

Highlighting that Thammasat University Hospital serves as both a medical facility and a training institution, Kwanchai pointed out that the doctor who treated his mother is a professor there. He demanded that the hospital and relevant authorities accept responsibility for the incident.

In his latest Facebook update, Kwanchai reported that his mother’s condition remains precarious. He also expressed disappointment that neither the doctor nor the hospital staff had apologised to him or his mother yet.