Dutch man dies after heart procedure, Thai wife

A Thai woman has gone public with allegations of medical negligence after her late Dutch husband died less than 24 hours after returning home from a heart procedure in Thailand. Richard, the deceased man, had flown from the Netherlands for a health check and underwent treatment at a hospital. Doctors reportedly told Richard that his electrocardiogram (ECG) showed an abnormal heartbeat and that he may have had heart disease. He was advised to ride a bicycle for a stress test, but became tired during the test. Doctors suspected he may have had coronary artery disease and recommended admission to the ICU for a contrast dye examination. The result showed that three coronary arteries were narrowed. Doctors told Richard the condition was very dangerous and advised him to undergo balloon angioplasty on two arteries immediately. The procedure was carried out without consultation with Richard’s wife or children. Richard stayed in the hospital for one night and returned home the next day. He died less than 24 hours after returning home. Richard’s wife paid almost 800,000 baht for the treatment. The case highlights the importance of medical tourism regulation in Thailand, particularly for foreign patients. The woman is now seeking answers and hoping to protect other families from becoming victims of what she described as Thailand’s hospital business driven by money. This case is a reminder that medical tourism can be a high-risk activity, and patients should be cautious when seeking medical treatment abroad.

Source: The Thaiger