Thaksin's troubles

The Medical Council of Thailand's decision (MCT) to penalise doctors implicated in the so-called "14th floor" saga — Thaksin Shinawatra's "privileged" hospital stay in lieu of doing real jail time upon returning to the country — is likely to send seismic shockwaves through the halls of power and affect some government ministers.

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As the former prime minister is widely viewed as the de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, now led by his daughter Paetongtarn, the move threatens to undermine the credibility of the government and especially the Ministry of Justice.

The MCT has decided to suspend the licences of two doctors at Police General Hospital (PGH) and issue a warning to one hospital staffer after concluding Thaksin was not critically ill, cited as the reason for him to serve his sentence in a hospital.

The two doctors were punished for providing inaccurate medical information and documents. The duration of their suspension remains unknown and is pending approval from the MCT's special committee under Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin.