Court throws out surgeon's suit

The Criminal Court yesterday dismissed a defamation case filed by a cosmetic surgeon against a former client who said publicly that the doctor botched an operation on her three years ago that left her permanently disfigured.

The court ruled that Raweewan Setarat had the right to release information about her disfigurement from medical malpractice by cosmetic surgeon Dr Phaisal Hengsawas, of Bioclinic's Don Muang branch.


Raweewan said Phaisal introduced her to what he claimed was an innovative procedure dubbed "Bio-technique", in which liquid is injected into the body over the course of a series of operations.

After Raweewan complained about the outcome of the procedure, the doctor filed three criminal libel lawsuits against her and a civil compensatory case demanding Bt129 million.

The woman produced documents to back up her claim that she underwent another 20 operations provided free at the clinic to correct the facial disfigurement. She still cannot completely close her left eye and her left eyelid has a rough complexion.
Raweewan said she lodged a complaint with the Medical Council two years ago but the doctors' self-regulatory body had made little progress looking into the matter.
the nation