Thai monk expelled after attacking nurse in Lop Buri hospital
A Thai monk with epilepsy and a history of mental illness attacked an assistant nurse at a hospital in Lop Buri province, striking the victim twice in the back and neck.
A video showing a group of Thai men attempting to restrain the monk by pinning him to the ground was shared on Thai social media platforms and went viral. According to the video description, the monk attacked a female assistant nurse at King Narai Hospital in Lop Buri.
After netizens shared the footage, it remained unclear whether the monk was under the influence of drugs or suffering from a mental illness. The victim was seen in the video crying in shock and fear.
The hospital later issued an official statement to clarify what had happened. According to the announcement, the incident took place at 9.25am on Tuesday, March 11.
The monk, identified as 49 year old Thanitthorn, visited the hospital for a follow-up treatment for his epilepsy and was waiting in the queue at the scene of the incident.
Initially, the monk remained calm, as monks are generally expected to be. However, he later appeared confused, began pacing back and forth, and removed parts of his monk’s robe.
Unexpectedly, the monk approached one of the medical workers, who was speaking to a patient, from behind. He reportedly punched the assistance nurse with his fist, twice, once on the neck and once in the back.
The hospital reported that no visible wounds or bruises were found on the victim, although she experienced pain at the sites of the attack. The hospital granted the victim two days off to rest and undergo further diagnosis regarding the mental impact of the incident.
The hospital stressed that it would pursue legal action against the monk and provide appropriate compensation to the victim to restore morale for both herself and other medical staff.
The monk’s father told Channel 3 that his son had been suffering from epilepsy since childhood and had been undergoing continuous treatment. However, the condition did not significantly improve, leading his son to develop depression.
According to the father, the National Office of Buddhism ordered the attacker to leave the monkhood to receive proper treatment for both epilepsy and mental health issues.
The latest update on the legal proceedings in the case was not mentioned in the report.
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