Inquiry initiated into death of Phuket mother and newborn

PHUKET: Doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital began an inquiry today into the death of a woman during childbirth on May 2 and that of her newborn son just two days later.

The investigation follows a protest on Saturday led by the distraught husband and father Numporn Intawong and 50 of his family members and friends.

Mr Numporn, a 42-year-old Patong taxi driver, and his group gathered at Vachira Phuket Hospital when he went to pick up the body of his infant son, Assawin Intawong.

“It has been a week since my wife died on May 2, but no one has called to explain her death to me, to apologize or to offer compensation,” said Mr Numporn on Saturday.

“My wife was given medicine to induce labor that day, but died before our baby was delivered. So, 30 minutes later, they performed a C-section to take the baby out.

“My son died two days later. I want justice for my family and I want this to be a lesson for other people.”

The inquiry will clarify details of the case and search for ways to prevent such deaths in the future, said Hospital Director Dr Jessada Chungpaibulpatana.

“No doctor ever expects or wants something like this to happen, but sometimes it does. We always try our best to save every patient’s life,” said Dr Jessada.

The body of the mother, Pornthip Buddeekum, was sent to Police General Hospital in Bangkok for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

“At this stage, I cannot reveal much more, as we are waiting for the results of the autopsy,” Dr Jessada said.

“We expect these results to be back next week. When we receive them, I will call a media conference to clarify the details of the incident with the family, friends and public.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the mother and son. Doctors and representatives from the hospital have attended funeral proceedings at Laem Petch Temple in Patong, and we are helping the family as much as we can.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong