Bangkok Post March 11 (Co 60 victims)

["Bjorn Cedervall" <bcradsafers@hotmail.com>]

The article below is from Bangkok Post, March 11

Bjorn Cedervall  bcradsafers@hotmail.com
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Kamala may face charge over fatality
Two more patients in critical condition

Wassayos Ngarmkham
Kamala Sukosol faced a fresh charge of fatal negligence yesterday after a 
scrapyard worker succumbed to radiation sickness in Ratchawithi hospital.
The managing director of Kamol Sukosol Electric Co, and Chaweng Suwannarat, 
director, would be charged if the cause of death was exposure to cobalt 60, 
police said.

Niphon Phankhan, 18, from Kalasin, died on Thursday, three weeks after he 
was exposed to radiation, which decimated his white blood cell count and 
left him vulnerable to infection.

Pol Maj-Gen Jongrak Juthanon, deputy city police chief, said the charge 
provides for a 10-year jail sentence.

Pongsak Thananes, the company's finance manager, discussed compensation 
yesterday with Sathien and Nong Phankhan, who came from Kalasin to take 
their dead son home.

Mr Niphon worked at Somjit scrapyard and was among those close to the cobalt 
cylinder when it was cut open. Mr Sathien said he had not been prepared for 
the loss. "When he was admitted to hospital, he could talk and walk," he 
said.

"It was not until three days ago that doctors stopped us seeing him," said 
Mr Sathien. "They always told us he was fine and then suddenly he died."Two 
of the nine remaining patients in hospital with radiation sickness remain in 
critical condition, the Medical Services Department said.

Chatri Banchuen, deputy director-general, identified them as Sudjai Jairaew, 
a scrapyard worker who cut open the cylinder, and Decha Songsiriphiphat, 
husband of the proprietor. Mr Niphon, Mr Sudjai and Mr Decha were among six 
patients in serious condition because they worked at the yard or were 
regular visitors. The condition of the other three had improved but they 
were not out of danger.

The condition of another four scrap collectors who had not been exposed to 
high radioactivity was improving, said Dr Chatri. One had been discharged, 
two were recovering from burns but one needed further treatment.

Dr Warunee Jinarat, of Ratchawithi hospital, declined to offer a prognosis 
on the remaining patients. "The white blood cell count in a normal person is 
5,000-10,000 per cu mm," she said. "When these people came to us their count 
was 0-100, which is dangerous."The patients were under close, 24-hour care 
and in separate rooms to minimise the risk of infection, she said. Treatment 
regimes were been adjusted as their symptoms changed.

Dr Warunee said the other patients had not been told of the death of Mr 
Niphon for the sake of their morale.

"They always ask about each other and if they knew of the death, they'd be 
scared and lose strength," she said.

The hospital is to absorb medical expenses of the patients. The daily cost 
of medicine is 20,000 baht each. Dr Ratchanee Ocharoen, of the Thai Red 
Cross, said sufficient white and red blood cells and platelets have been 
obtained for the patients.

However, injections of white cells work only in the first five to 10 days 
and then it is up to the bone marrow.

Medical Services officials met yesterday to assess the risks and lessons 
from the Samut Prakan leak. Doctors at Samut Prakan hospital were praised 
for their efforts which led to a correct diagnosis that had helped save 
lives.

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