Rest in peace, Garf

[2dandan]

I don't know Garf and his story is sad but surely the onus is on every ex pat in Thailand to make provision for their own health care and not rely on the Embassy, local friends/colleagues, the Thai medical/social security system etc etc.

I'm not being disrespectful but the original post suggests that this problem and associated health care issues should have been taken on board by someone else.

Lesson learned - take care of your own problems before they become problems and then you can get the level of care you expect and probably need. Otherwise you are likely to be disappointed.

My condolences to Garfs family and I apologise if my post upsets anyone but I feel that the blame culture has become endemic around the world and personal responsibility has become everyone else's problem and not the person's problem.

[Takiap]

I don't know Garf and his story is sad but surely the onus is on every ex pat in Thailand to make provision for their own health care and not rely on the Embassy, local friends/colleagues, the Thai medical/social security system etc etc.

I'm not being disrespectful but the original post suggests that this problem and associated health care issues should have been taken on board by someone else.

Lesson learned - take care of your own problems before they become problems and then you can get the level of care you expect and probably need. Otherwise you are likely to be disappointed.

My condolences to Garfs family and I apologise if my post upsets anyone but I feel that the blame culture has become endemic around the world and personal responsibility has become everyone else's problem and not the person's problem.

I agree with most of what you say, but the fact remains that his employer has in fact committed a crime by deducting money from his wages, and not using that money as it was meant to be used. in a civilized society where there is at least a certain amount of law and order, Garf would have been entitled to health care since he had paid it via his monthly contributions.

My wife works for a Thai property company, and whenever she needs to see a doctor, she goes to Bangkok Hospital here in Hua-Hin, and it costs her nothing because the company have her covered with medical aid. If a property company can get their act together, sure a university, owned/operated/managed by so-called "academics" can do the same.

This sort of thing is disgraceful, and I would be of the same opinion if the victim had been a local Thai.


In this particular case, I do think the University should shoulder some of the blame simply because they are guilty of fraud, but of course that's not going to happen because it wouldn't provide any good photo shoot opportunities.


Should people be able to rely on their embassies? I don't know, but I do know that I do have enough brain power to know that I'd be wasting my time speaking to my embassy. After all, embassies are controlled and run by government officials.


Lastly, the way Garf was treated by hospital staff is even more disgraceful, given that doctors and nurses have chosen to be in a profession dedicated to helping others. The medical profession, more than any other profession, should set high moral standards, and this was certainly not the case in the hospital mentioned in the article about Garf. If we were discussing a poverty stricken hell hole in darkest Africa, I would perhaps be able to understand, but we're not - we're talking about Thailand; a land of "refinement" where the people are gentle and caring.

[dtaai-maai]

I'm not being disrespectful but the original post suggests that this problem and associated health care issues should have been taken on board by someone else.

I'm afraid you're being hugely disrespectful, as well as talking through your hat.

As you'd know if you'd actually read the article, Gareth was working for a government university and as such a health insurance contribution was deducted by the university from his monthly salary. The university was not passing this contribution on to the appropriate department, so that when he needed urgent treatment he found he was not covered. This was a service that he had paid for and was entitled to.

Leaving to one side the fact that you are quite wrong, I can't think of a less appropriate time or place to express your opinion.

[bapak]

Latest info I have is that it will be several weeks before Garf's cremation. There will first be an autopsy.

[Spitfire]

With all due respect Spitfire: firstly the situation WITHIN the UK is completely irrelevant. Secondly you do not build up any RIGHTS regarding embassy services abroad by paying your taxes in your home country. It amazes me really how people -of all nationalities by the way- automatically assume that their embassy is obliged to help them.

Nice chutzpah Roel. The forum needs eloquent expression, despite what's posted being at odds with what many other posters post sometimes as opinions are diverse to say the least.

A bit of lively/controversial posting is needed sometimes as the Prozac posts/threads often run wild these days.

Compassion is sadly missing in almost every walk of life these days, from person to person, to person to officialdom to whatever.

[Dr Michael]

After posting about Embassies and their lack of responsibility.

To show some balance. I have seen some very positive actions. About 3 years ago a young Aussie was lost in the jungle in Laos for 11 days. The Aussie Embassy was wonderful, arranging a helicopter search and getting the guy out.
They then visited him in hospital in Laos and in BKK.

Psychiatric patients are a problem. They come to Asia, stop takeing their meds and crash a week later--it is VERY difficult to get the airlines to take them, even tho they are ticketed and the UK Embassy have worked wonders for us in this department.

Smaller Embasies, the NZ and Irish come to mind, tend to be more helpful than the bigger ones.

[barry720]

RIP. Unfortunately not that unusual to get poor health care unless you have money or insurance.

[bapak]

An update..
John Le Fevre has got Pornthip Rojanasunand to agree to do the autopsy on Gareth. There's no charge. She'll use a team of three pathologists.
John has also been talking to Department of Special Investigations trying to get them to open a Thailand-wide investigation into this wholesale fraud on foreign and Thai staff by schools, hotels, etc deducting welfare fund money from Thai and foreigners salaries and not remitting it to the SSO.

No cremation date yet.

[bapak]

Gareth's cremation will take place at 8pm on Wednesday, May 2, at Wat That Thong Ekkamai.

The entrance is situated off Sukhumvit Road diagonally opposite the Ekkamai bus station. If you are heading out of Bangkok to Pattaya it is on the left side of Sukhumvit.

Have not got any wake details yet but there is a suggestion of the English Pub on Soi 23.

Will advise if any changes to the above.