In an incident eliciting nationwide outrage, a chronically sick Thai man from Pathum Thani province was required by local authorities to bodily seem for the renewal of his expired national ID, despite being bedridden. The man tragically passed away a day after the ID was renewed, putting Thai bureaucratic techniques beneath scrutiny.
Facebook consumer Prangtong Jaiboon lately posted in regards to the unfortunate incident involving her ailing father, whose nationwide ID had expired. Limited acknowledged that the district authorities insisted her father ought to be bodily present for the ID renewal process despite her explanations that he was bedridden and cannot fend for himself due to declining health. Prangtong queried if there was an alternate method that might spare her father the distress of the journey, corresponding to presenting a power of legal professional or the officials visiting the house to confirm her father’s condition.
However, the authorities of Pathumthani province maintained that whatever the patient’s situation – be that bedridden, critical ailment, wheelchair-bound, motionless, on life-support or assisted respiratory devices – their bodily presence is required at the district office. If the affected person is unable to transport himself, an ambulance service would be provided to hold him. Disabled individuals had to comply with the identical laws, having to be present on the provincial hall for the renewal of their ID. It was lastly on June 7, that her ailing father needed to renew his ID. Unfortunately, the following day, June 8, he passed away.
The renewed ID was merely used for a photograph with all other particulars being reused from the previous data.
Prangtong questioned why the ID was necessary, while her father was entitled to direct cost and had rights to authorities hospital therapies. Her father was receiving varied medications, one beneath the ‘Luwang Prakop’ (Royal Benefit) scheme as his elder brother was a navy officer..