What of insurance?
Re: "Tragedy, farce in Mountain B saga", (Opinion, Aug 15).
Reading about the terrible plight of the victims of the Mountain B pub blaze, and their having to be moved from hospital to hospital owing to their ability (or inability) to meet private healthcare costs, is an utter disgrace. At a time when people ought to be allowed to concentrate upon recovering from their often horrific injuries, they are being hassled over paying medical bills. Where is the compassion, where is the caring concern and where does the responsibility truly lie?
Leaving aside the scandal that is private health insurance, are the owners of bars and restaurants not required, by law, to obtain public liability insurance, or the like, as is the case in most responsible countries? If this were required, then the innocent victims of the fire ought not need to worry about their medical bills, as they would be paid for by the pub or restaurant owners' insurance companies.
The latter might then require that owners of such premises follow health and safety procedures like ensuring sufficient exit doors in the event of an emergency, ensuring sprinkler systems are fitted, and that a minimum number of fire extinguishers are available on the premises, as well as insisting that non-combustible materials are used in the construction of such buildings, in order to reduce the risk of loss involved.
It is about time the true cost of opening such bars and restaurants was charged to the owners in advance of their opening, rather than transferred to the victims of accidents waiting to happen in such "cheap-skate" operations.
If the owners' insurance does not fully cover the costs then, they should be personally liable, as it should rightly be their responsibility to cover the excess. Otherwise, all premises in Thailand open to the public should have a big sign at the entrance stating: "Enter at entirely your own risk -- be warned!"
Whilst the government might be well advised to set about ensuring that such normal insurance cover for public venues is mandatory, how about also ensuring, at least, third-party motor insurance for all vehicle owners -- cars, trucks and motorcycles -- before they are allowed to use them on the public highways?
In all my years in Thailand, when police spot checks were common, not once was I asked to show my insurance certificate, only my driving licence, road tax (if not already displayed) and vehicle registration. A similar, massive oversight perhaps, for accidents waiting to happen?
Come on, Thailand, it is not exactly rocket science!
SOS