Doctor postpones hearing into cosmetic surgery death

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Dr Sompop Saensiri, the owner of a Bangkok cosmetic clinic, yesterday put off an appointment to testify to police about the death of a 24-year-old British woman under general anaesthesia during cosmetic surgery at his Lat Phrao clinic last week.

A lawyer representing the 51-year-old doctor informed police he couldn’t give testimony yesterday afternoon because he was busy. Police planned to inform him of an additional charge of operating the clinic beyond an authorised time.

Dr Sompop has been charged with reckless operation that resulted in the death of another, which he denied, insisting he treated the patient according to approved medical process.

He was granted bail on Friday and the Public Health Ministry has ordered his clinic to be shut down for 60 days .

— Phuket Gazette Editors