Rob
Phuket Expat Deaths Likely to be More Closely
Investigated After Chiang Mai Report
By Alan Morison
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
PHUKET: In the wake of a series of unexplained deaths in Chiang Mai
earlier this year, Thai authorities are acting to prevent pesticide
poisoning of tourists and to more closely monitor the causes of deaths
of expats.
The report by the investigating body is likely to resonate on Phuket
and in Pattaya and among envoys from many countries who would like
more thorough investigations of all deaths of expat residents and
tourists.
For Phuket and Pattaya, the most pertinent paragraph of the report
reads: ''Surveillance of hospitalised tourists, already in effect,
will be continued and a new protocol for investigation of fatal cases
is being adopted.''
It's too early to say how far-reaching the new approach will be, but
Thai authorities appear to be in the process of recognising that every
tourist and expat death - whether in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya,
Samui or Bangkok - needs to be properly investigated and an accurate
cause of death determined.
Too often, local investigating police make the only decision on the
cause of death. Chemical tests and autopsies are rare, and cannot be
performed on Phuket.
It was the death of 23-year-old tourist Sarah Carter that first
prompted an investigation in Chiang Mai - and other deaths became
linked until authorities were forced to instigate a full and proper
probe.
Official attitudes appear to have changed significantly since two
young tourist women, a Norwegian and an American (Jill and Julie), died
in mysterious circumstances after falling ill at the Laleena
guesthouse on Phi Phi in 2009...
Investigated After Chiang Mai Report
By Alan Morison
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
PHUKET: In the wake of a series of unexplained deaths in Chiang Mai
earlier this year, Thai authorities are acting to prevent pesticide
poisoning of tourists and to more closely monitor the causes of deaths
of expats.
The report by the investigating body is likely to resonate on Phuket
and in Pattaya and among envoys from many countries who would like
more thorough investigations of all deaths of expat residents and
tourists.
For Phuket and Pattaya, the most pertinent paragraph of the report
reads: ''Surveillance of hospitalised tourists, already in effect,
will be continued and a new protocol for investigation of fatal cases
is being adopted.''
It's too early to say how far-reaching the new approach will be, but
Thai authorities appear to be in the process of recognising that every
tourist and expat death - whether in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya,
Samui or Bangkok - needs to be properly investigated and an accurate
cause of death determined.
Too often, local investigating police make the only decision on the
cause of death. Chemical tests and autopsies are rare, and cannot be
performed on Phuket.
It was the death of 23-year-old tourist Sarah Carter that first
prompted an investigation in Chiang Mai - and other deaths became
linked until authorities were forced to instigate a full and proper
probe.
Official attitudes appear to have changed significantly since two
young tourist women, a Norwegian and an American (Jill and Julie), died
in mysterious circumstances after falling ill at the Laleena
guesthouse on Phi Phi in 2009...
