Jailed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra underwent orthopaedic surgery on Monday at the Police General Hospital (PGH) although it remains unclear how long his recovery will take, which will extend his stay outside of prison, according to the Department of Corrections.
Sahakarn Petnarin, deputy permanent secretary for justice and acting director-general of the department, said on Tuesday that the Bangkok Remand Prison (BRP) informed the department of the procedure.
Citing a BRP report, the department said Thaksin, who is widely seen as the de-facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party, had surgery at 9am and was later transferred to the hospital’s Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for recovery at 2pm.
The department instructed the BRP’s director to visit the NICU to ensure everything is in order.
Mr Sahakarn said Thaksin's post-surgery condition is still under assessment, and this will determine the duration of his stay at the hospital.
Records show the 74-year-old former prime minister suffers multiple illnesses associated with advanced age, such as a herniated disc and weak hands and arms.
While the surgery was considered necessary and urgent, once he fully recovers, he will be returned for treatment at the prison's medical facility, Mr Sahakarn said.
He insisted that Thaksin is not receiving preferential treatment.
The news of Thaksin's surgery has been made public amid doubts about his medical conditions. He was admitted to the hospital from the BRP on Aug 22 after returning from 15 years of self-imposed exile.
Thaksin is not the only prisoner allowed to receive medical treatment outside the prison for this long, said the department.
Since Oct 1 last year, 149 inmates have received medical treatment outside prison. Of them, 115 were outside for more than 30 days, 30 stayed for more than 60 days, and four were outside for over 120 days, according to the department.
Activist Srisuwan Janya has petitioned the medical council to investigate whether doctors were assisting Thaksin Shinawatra in faking his illnesses to justify his prolonged stay outside prison on Tuesday. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)
Meanwhile, political activist Srisuwan Janya petitioned the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) to investigate whether doctors at the PGH were allegedly helping Thaksin fake his illnesses to justify his stay outside the prison.
The serial petitioner urged the MCT to find out whether the medical opinions about Thaksin’s conditions meet professional standards, emphasising the seriousness of the matter and the potential damage to Thailand's judicial system.
In response to questions surrounding a photo circulating on social media showing Thaksin on a gurney for a scan, Mr Srisuwan raised concerns about the discretion of medical staff during the transfer, the absence of IV drips, and the use of a general gurney instead of a more sophisticated one if Thaksin was in serious condition.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed the surgery and Thaksin's placement in an intensive care unit. However, he was unsure whether Thaksin has been discharged from the ICU.
Mr Srettha said he has learned that the surgery involved piercing Thaksin's arms in four areas.
