Ethical Dilema Sunday 25 August, 2002
SUKHIT PHAOSA VA SDI, M.D.*, SURASAK TANEEPANICHSKUL, M.D.*, YUEN TANNIRANDORN, M.D.*, AURCHART KARNJANAPITAK, M.D.*, PINIT KULLA VA NUA YA , M.D.**
Affiliation : * Member of Thai Medical Association. ** President of the Royal College of Physicians of Thailand.
The Thai Medical Association asked doctors from all specialties to go and express their
thoughts on the 5 bills being drafted which were the National Health Insurance Bill, National Health
Bill, Bill on Drugs, Bill on the Profession of Medical Technology and the Bill on Medical lnstuments
at the Royal Golden Jubilee Building, Soi Soonvijai, New Petchburi Road recently. There were many
doctors from Bangkok and provinces, with different age groups, qualifications, different walks of
life e.g. civil servants, private practitioners, young, old, and middle aged doctors. The big conference
room was full and the number attended must be about 10-15 per cent of all Thai doctors! This was
understandable as the topics of the conference were stimulating enough to draw so many doctors to
attend.
The atmosphere, before, during, and after the meeting, was very mixed; very friendly, happy,
satisfied, educational, emotional and infact had everything. It was like eating plain soup, hot spicy
soup, rice, noodles and "kanom jean" all at once!
Many of those attended have already worked under the "30 Bahts Project" but some have
only just heard of it. Almost all who stood to speak did so as if they were afraid as if the draft bills were
'Ghost Law' or 'Giant Law' or 'Devil Law' etc. They did not have respect for the bills and were com
pletely against them. For example some suggested that doctors should set up a Doctors Union because
other medical institutions, presently available, can not help to calm the nerves, the anxiety, and to
prevent the dangers which will occur in the future to all doctors.
If doctors do neglect medical ethics which was in the past a strong point which made
doctors respectable in society and turn medical profession into a business like other profes
sions by forming a Medical Union in preparation for the change in the law of the nation. What will
the doctors choose in the future, a high moral standard, or to survive with prestige when the country
is a socialist state with free service (benefits)?
Keywords : Ethical Dilema
