Ang Thong Hospital says infant died from illness, not NICU banquet

Ang Thong provincial hospital has claimed that the newborn being treated in its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) died from pulmonary hypertension, and that the death was unrelated to a lunch buffet held in the unit by a group of doctors and nurses.

The hospital's position was announced at a press conference yesterday by Dr Thaweechoke Roharumkul, Ang Thong's provincial public health chief, and Dr Parichart Terawatt, director of Ang Thong Hospital.

Dr Thaweechoke said a fact-finding investigation had concluded that the premature baby weighed more than 4kg at birth because the mother had diabetes, a condition that contributed to pulmonary hypertension in the infant. He added that babies with the condition have a high mortality rate.

He acknowledged that a lunch gathering had been held in the NICU, but insisted that there had been no contact with the baby and said a disciplinary investigation was under way.

Graphic by Thai PBS

Meanwhile, Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr Somruek Chungsaman said the ministry had established a fact-finding committee to investigate both the treatment of the infant and the holding of the gathering in the NICU.

Regarding the treatment, he said the committee found that medical personnel had performed their duties in accordance with professional standards and had strictly complied with safety protocols, including washing their hands and wearing latex gloves each time they treated the baby in the incubator.

Regarding the gathering, which was attended by a few doctors and 15 nurses, and reports that some attendees spilled out of the NICU, he said a disciplinary investigation was under way and was expected to be completed by the end of the month.