Chon Buri: Unlawful doctor arrested for practising medicine from home

Authorities have apprehended an unlawful doctor, known colloquially as Doctor Gee, who was running an unauthorised medical practice from his residence.

Despite only having completed his secondary education, Doctor Gee trained in bone-setting and provided treatment to patients. The activities of the unlawful doctor were discovered today (November 18), when the police, along with Health Support Department and the Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office, conducted a raid at his home.

The operation was carried out by the 4th Infantry Battalion of the Military Circle and the Provincial Police Region 1 after they were alerted about a Facebook page and a TikTok account named Illicit Doctor and Illicit Doctor 2 respectively. These accounts advertised bone-setting services for treating various illnesses, which is illegal for someone who is not a licenced professional and not operating within a permitted medical facility. The treatment was being carried out in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri.

During the subsequent search of the suspect’s residence, it was found that the premises had been transformed to resemble a medical facility, complete with patient beds and stocked with medicines, medical supplies, and equipment for treating patients. The 49 year old unlawful doctor was found treating a patient with cupping therapy.

Upon questioning, he admitted to posting images and video clips of his treatment sessions on social media. The unlawful doctor confessed that he did not possess a licence to practice medicine. Despite having completed his secondary education, his interest in treating patients led him to train at a traditional Thai medicine institute around 2020. However, he never obtained a licence and began offering bone-setting treatments to the public at his home, reported KhaoSod.

Services were priced according to treatment duration, ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 baht. On an average day, the illicit doctor would see between three to five patients. The authorities seized 54 types of modern medicine, totalling over 3,800 capsules, and are proceeding with legal action against the disingenuous doctor for operating a medical facility and providing medical services without a licence, selling unlicenced modern medicine, selling unregistered prescription drugs, and practising medicine without a licence.