BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on May 13 firmly responded to public skepticism surrounding the medical treatment of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, asserting that he is genuinely ill and that all procedures were conducted according to proper medical and legal processes.
Speaking at Government House, Paetongtarn addressed the recent decision by the Medical Council of Thailand, which issued disciplinary action against three doctors who oversaw Thaksin’s care during his hospitalization on the 14th floor of the Police General Hospital. Critics have claimed the situation reflects political favoritism and class inequality, accusing the Pheu Thai Party of shielding Thaksin from justice.
“The facts can be explained. He’s truly ill,” Paetongtarn said, emphasizing her father’s prior health conditions, including complications from a severe bout of COVID-19 before returning to Thailand at the age of 72. “This happened months before I became Prime Minister,” she added, rejecting claims that her administration played any role in the matter.
When asked if the Medical Council’s ruling had legal implications for Thaksin, Paetongtarn said it does not, and confirmed he is scheduled to appear in court on June 13. She stressed that the matter should be viewed through the lens of medical records and due process, and urged the public not to jump to conclusions.
She acknowledged that while the three doctors involved have faced disciplinary consequences, the issue has been used as political ammunition against her government. “We’ve been affected since the court ruling that sentenced my father to prison,” she said. “But all we can do now is stick to the facts.
