View Full Version : Tutor Crazy?
:eek: Note the possible typo in the headline. Or is it just that I haven't spotted the pun or the intimation just yet? ;) It reads rather like one of those 30 episode soap operas (Nang Nam Now) that are so popular on most Thai TV stations. These invariably portray some hi-so rich family which is absolutely riddled with internal intrigue, spite, paranoia, megalomania and barely-supressed violence: -
One flew over the uckoo's nest?
Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong, who owns a lucrative tutorial business, maintains that he is not insane and is doing his best to stay out of a mental institution.
On his side is a young female friend for the past nine years, 24-year-old Premmika Veerachatraksit, who also happens to he his former student. She is a psychology major at Chulalongkorn University and claims to have lots of friends and former students of Prakitpao's who are willing to testify in court that he is sane.
But Prakitpao is up against some formidable competition: his wife, mother, brother and the director of Srithanya Hospital, Dr Kiatipoom Wongrajit, all of whom insist he needs professional help.
And so this Friday, the Criminal Court will hear them out. No one knows what the future holds, but the end is far from over, as the battle to decide whether Prakitpao should remain in a mental institution will be a tough one.
Leaning favourably towards Prakitpao is chief investigator Pol Lt-Colonel Thitidej Intornpan, who became involved after Premmika lodged a complaint with the police.
Prakitpao was admitted to Sri-thanya Hospital on February 19. The next day, Premmika lodged a complaint with Bang Sue police station.
"I previously went to check at the hospital but was not allowed to speak to Prakitpao," said Lt-Colonel Thitidej, whose damning statement is likely to come in handy for the Prakitpao camp. Thitidej was supposed to take Prakitpao's statement as to why he believes he was being illegally detained in an insane asylum, and so the next natural course of action, as far as Thitidej is concerned, is to bring the court into the picture.
But not without a fight, though. Prakitpao's wife, Alisa, is now seeking to have the court summons annulled.
"What I'm doing is taking care of my husband," said Alisa. She insisted they were not estranged but declined to elaborate further or comment about the former student.
"Please listen to me when I speak to the court about why my husband should not be brought to the inquiry," Alisa said.
Dr Kiatipoom, whose expert opinion may not be admissible to the court now that he is a defendant in the case, told reporters yesterday that "patient" Prakitpao was not able to look after himself as of yesterday.
"He is confused," the hospital director said of Prakitpao.
Dr Kiatipoom also pointed out the irony of the court summoning a mentally ill patient to the inquiry. Further consultation with the doctor in charge of the case is needed, he said.
Earlier in the day at a press conference, Dr Kiatipoom said Prakitpao could conceivably make a complete recovery from his alleged illness if he received proper treatment.
He said Dr Paitoon Samudsin had treated Prakitpao at Srithanya Hospital and that the patient's file showed him suffering from "delusions", believing "he had magical powers".
Paitoon was not present at yesterday's press conference, because he was on holiday.
"Such symptoms can pose a threat to himself and people around him," said Dr Kiatipoom, adding that Srithanya Hospital had been a respectable institute throughout its 65 years of operation.
Dr Kiatipoom said lab tests also found the level of ephedrine in Prakitpao's urine was 200 times higher than normal.
"The treatment will take about 30 days, and the patient's recovery will be about 70-80 per cent," said Kiatipoom.
Prakitpao, 37, is married to Alisa, and the couple have two children. In 2005, his family was named an "exemplary family" by a civic organisation.
But Premmika has been at his hospital bedside during his nine-day stay. She described her relationship with Prakitpao as that of "a very close friend".
She did not say much more about the nature of their relationship but added that if and when Prakitpao divorced his wife, all of his money would go to his wife and children.
Dr Kiatipoom also questioned why there was such a high ephedrine level in Prakitpao's body.
Mental Health Department adviser Dr Sujarit Suwannacheep, speaking at the same press conference, said excessive dosage of ephedrine could affect the mind.
"It's not surprising if an ephedrine abuser develops mental symptoms," he said.
Also on the panel yesterday was Dr Prakitphan Thomthitchong, Prakitpao's older brother.
"My brother developed mental problems last October after his former students at the cram school persuaded him to practice meditation," said Dr Prakitphan.
The Thomthitchong Family has run the Applied Physics school for decades. Currently, it has 16 branches across the country and reportedly generates Bt100 million a year. Prakitpao became a key member behind the business after he decided to stop working as a doctor to keep his father's tutorial school going.
Dr Prakitphan yesterday said he suspected foul play behind the illness, saying his younger brother was absolutely fine before he started keeping close contact with these former students. He, too, pointed to the high level of ephedrine.
"Whoever did this to him has already successfully managed to discredit our family and our cram school," said Dr Prakitphan.
He said Prakitpao had turned paranoid and insisted on wearing a bulletproof vest after he began regularly going out with a group of his former students.
Dr Prakitphan did not say whether Premmika was one of them. So far, he has only confirmed that Premmika is a former student of Prakitpao's.
Dr Prakitphan said he would lodge a complaint against Lt-Colonel Thitidej for seeking Prakitpao's release from Srithanya Hospital.
"My family believes we are victims of a trap to discredit us," he said, adding that he had already spoken to acting national police chief General Seripisut Temiyavej.
Asked about Dr Prakitphan's threat, Thitidej said he would be ready to explain everything to Seripisut.
"I've followed normal procedure," he said.
Thitidej called it suspicious that Dr Prakitphan and his mother had also assigned a plainclothes police officer to keep a close watch on Prakitpao at Srithanya Hospital.
Thitidej said he hoped a neutral psychiatric institute would step in to treat Prakitpao.
Alisa's lawyer, Chuchart Sinlaparat, yesterday threatened to sue Thitidej and other relevant officials for seeking the court summons.
Prakitpao's mother, Assoc Prof Ploenchit, a retired Chulalongkorn University lecturer, said no mother would put her own child in a mental hospital if her son had not developed an illness.
In a related development, pharmacist Paisal Puangniyom of the Food and Drug Administration said he had never seen anyone with such a high level of ephedrine before.
"I wonder how such a massive amount of ephedrine could exist in his body. It was probably injected," said Paisal.
Ephedrine is also available in medicines to treat runny nose and reduce allergies.
Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul,
Puangchompoo Prasert
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/28/headlines/headlines_30028105.php
What ails tutorial king?
Amid conflicting claims over his mental health, Dr Prakitpao ordered to appear in court today after filing for divorce.
Doubts over Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong's admission to Srithanya Hospital, a mental institution, mounted yesterday, after evidence showed that he was sent there while preparing to sign divorce papers.
Prakitpao runs a tutorial business that reportedly earns him more than Bt100 million a year.
Backed by his mother and elder brother, his wife Alisa has insisted that Prakitpao is mentally ill.
Pemmika Veerachatraksit, who has been very close to Prakitpao for nine years, had complained to police that Prakitpao was forced to undergo mental treatment despite being perfectly sane.
Thawatchai Kaewkongka, an assistant district officer at Nakhon Pathom's Buddhamondhol District Office, confirmed that Prakitpao showed up for the divorce at 10am on February 19. Hours later, he was admitted to Srithanya Hospital as a mental patient under murky circumstances.
"I was shocked when I saw news reports that he was sent to Srithanya," Thawatchai said.
Prakitpao had produced documents required for the divorce like his national identity card and household registration when they met last Monday, Thawatchai said.
"He just forgot to bring along the marriage certificate. So, he said he would go home to get it and come back. His house is not far from our district office," Thawatchai said.
Prakitpao never returned.
"Instead, his mother showed up saying that the family had already talked it over and didn't want the divorce anymore," Thawatchai said.
Buddhamondhol District chief Sujin Chaichumsak said Prakitpao had told him about the divorce plan.
Another official at the office, who asked not to be named, said he knew Prakitpao well and did not believe he had mental problems.
Pemmika, 24, had told police that Prakitpao called her from the hospital asking for help last Tuesday. Yesterday, a hospital employee said Prakitpao borrowed his cell phone but he didn't know whom Prakitpao was calling.
Pemmika's fight for Prakitpao's release from the hospital attracted media attention.
Police acted on her complaint and the Criminal Court has summoned Srithanya Hospital's director, Dr Kiatipoom Wongrajit, and Prakitpao to a hearing tomorrow.
Prakitpao's wife Alisa is seeking to have the court summons annulled.
Kiatipoom yesterday said he would report to the court tomorrow.
He also said Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla had advised him to ask a neutral agency to form a panel of psychiatrists to give a second opinion on Prakitpao's mental state.
"So, I have written to the chairman of the Royal College of Psychiatrists to help establish a panel," Kiatipoom said.
At Srithanya, Prakitpao is under the charge of Dr Paitoon Samudsin who declined to predict whether his patient would report to the court along with Kiatipoom.
Paitoon spoke to the media for the first time with the consent of Prakitpao's mother.
"He remains paranoid and afraid that someone is going to harm him," Paitoon said. Prakitpao could appear very normal to other people and only those close to him could detect that he was acting strangely, he said.
Prakitpao was found with a very high level of ephedrine in his urine upon his admission to Srithanya on February 19, Paitoon said, adding that ephedrine, though included in some medicines, could cause death in some cases.
He said it should be investigated how Prakitpao came to have such a high level of ephedrine.
"As for the treatment, it's best to leave paranoid patients in peaceful and safe circumstances," Paitoon said.
Pemmika earlier claimed that a friend of Prakitpao's elder brother had given Prakitpao the drug that turned him into a dazed individual.
Prakitpan, an elder brother of Prakitpao, yesterday admitted that he knew a doctor at Srithanya but he said it was a deputy director of the hospital himself who took up Prakitpao's case.
He also denied Pemmika's claim that Prakitpao upset his family when he asked to take control of the Applied Physics tutorial school late last year.
"This is our family business. But for more than 10 years, my younger brother has come in to help. All of our family members are happy about his help. He has indeed worked hard and if he wants a larger share of the profits, I couldn't agree more," Prakitpan said.
He suspected ill-intentioned people had plotted against his family.
"Once my brother's wife received a phone call that my brother has already prepared a will to give his inheritance to the caller," Prakitpan said without naming anyone.
Prakitpan said he had the right to be worried that if those ill-intentioned people took Prakitpao away and Prakitpao died, that will would take effect.
"I have to put up a fight not allowing them to take my brother away," Prakitpan said.
He said out of kindness, Prakitpao allowed Pemmika into his home when she was still a secondary-school student after she claimed that she had family problems.
"Back then, she did not use this name," Prakitpan said.
Dr Taweesilp Wissanuyothin, the Public Health Ministry's spokesman, said psychiatrists were usually asked to stand as expert witnesses in inheritance disputes involving the mental capacity of patients who were old already.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/01/headlines/headlines_30028198.php
Scuba22
01-03-07, 04:29 PM
... 30 episode soap operas (Nang Nam Now) that are so popular on most Thai TV stations. These invariably portray some hi-so rich family which is absolutely riddled with internal intrigue, spite, paranoia, megalomania and barely-supressed violence:
Is that right? My usual response to Thai soap operas is to avoid them as much as possible so I had no idea that this was the usual plot line.
I wonder how much of this is related to buried feelings about the highest of hi-so families...
Scuba
Insanity claims don't add up: students
Students rallied around the so-called "tutorial king" yesterday saying they did not believe he was suffering from mental illness despite reports the much admired teacher had checked into a hospital for treatment of mental-health problems.
Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong is a skilful teacher who makes learning fun and he never appeared mentally unstable, students said.
Staff at Prakitpao's Applied Physics tutorial school at Siam Square said only a handful of parents had called the school to cancel their children's classes.
Most parents who called did so to offer their support and seek updates on the popular teacher's condition, an employee identified as Patpong told The Nation.
Students did not believe media reports that had labelled their teacher insane, Patpong said.
He said Prakitpao appeared normal the last time they met, on February 17.
"He doesn't drink or smoke or go out at night. He is kind and loves to make merit and meditate," Patpong added.
He did not believe the reports that said the teacher carried three guns, he said.
However, Patpong added, because the apparent family dispute is sensitive and personal both sides - Prakitpao and his family - should be heard.
Kwang, a 15 year old who studies physics with Prakitpao, said he showed no sign mental instability.
"He's a good and funny teacher," she said. He provided plenty of formulas for calculating that were easy to understand and quick, she added.
She urged Prakitpao to tell public what had happened, as he was the only who could answer all the questions people had.
A woman whose sons have studied at the school for five years said Prakitpao had helped her second eldest son pass the entrance exam for engineering. The woman, who identified herself as Phuangchompoo, said that since she had enrolled her youngest son in the school he had become an excellent student.
Following reports that Prakitpao had been admitted to Srithanya Hospital, Phuangchompoo said she considered cancelling her youngest son's classes at the tutorial school.
She was worried her son would be in danger, she said.
However, he insisted that Prakitpao was a good teacher who made learning fun. The boy said he would quit the school if Prakitpao stopped teaching there, Phuangchompoo said.
She said her son would study by using videos of Prakitpao teaching until the teacher returned to the classroom.
Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/02/national/national_30028254.php
INSANITY DISPUTE
Battle over 'tutorial king' goes to court
The Criminal Court will today intervene in the high-profile dispute between the family of "tutorial king" Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong and his long-time friend over whether he should be confined to a mental institution for treatment.
Acting on a police request, the court will decide whether Prakitpao should be released from Srithanya Hospital.
The Criminal Court has summoned the hospital's director Kiatipoom Wongrajit and Prakitpao to an inquiry today.
"We will look into whether there are sufficient reasons to order Prakitpao's release from the hospital," the court's chief judge Jirawan Suyanawanichkul said yesterday.
Jirawan said Lt-Colonel Thitidej Intornpan of Bang Sue Police Station and Pemmika Veerachatraksit, who has been very close to Prakitpao for nine years, are expected to ask the court to release the teacher.
They will bring an expert to argue that he should be released.
Prakitpao's wife, mother and elder brother will also attend the inquiry. They do not want the court to order Prakitpao's release.
Kiatipoom will appear before the court but it is not known whether Prakitpao will be allowed to attend.
"He may not come," Jirawan said.
Prakitpao, 37, has a Bt100-million-a-year tutorial business. On February 19 he was sent to Srithanya Hospital just hours before he was to sign divorce papers at a district office in Nakhon Pathom.
Pemmika said he had been forced to receive treatment.
She lodged a complaint with police who subsequently called on the court to intervene.
Psychiatrists who have examined Prakitpao have agreed that he has mental problems.
Kiatipoom yesterday expressed full confidence in a diagnosis by Dr Paitoon Samudsin that found Prakitpao was suffering from mental illness.
A second opinion by a three-member panel from Royal College of Royal College of Psychiatrists reportedly confirmed Paitoon's diagnosis.
The college's chair, Professor Nongpha-nga Limsuwan, who also heads Ramathibodi Hospital's Psychiatry Department, declined to disclose details.
"What I can confirm is that no psychiatrist will label a normal person as mentally ill because it's a sin and will cause additional burden to psychiatrists who already have to take care of many patients," she said.
Some mentally ill patients are unaware that they are sick, Nongpha-nga added.
Pemmika, however, remains sceptical about the family's explanation for sending Prakitpao to Srithanya Hospital, noting that this prevented him from signing divorce papers.
"I want to know what happened to him when he went back home to get the necessary papers for the divorce," Pemmika said.
On February 19, Prakitpao gave documents for the divorce to Thawatchai Kaewkongka, an assistant at Nakhon Pathom's District Office, then went to fetch more documents from his home, saying he would soon return.
Thawatchai said Prakitpao never returned but his mother showed up to say that her son no longer wanted a divorce.
Pemmika said she also wanted to know why Prakitpao had such high levels of ephedrine in his body.
Srithanya Hospital said he had 200 times the normal level of the substance in his body. High doses of ephedrine, a common ingredient in medicines, can affect the mind.
Assistant Professor Kitti Totemchokchaikarn of Ramathibodi Hospital said that amount of ephedrine was unlikely to have accumulated in the body over a long period because it is swiftly flushed from the system.
"If it is found in such a high amount, it is likely that it came from a single intake," he said.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Division II commander Maj-General Amnuay Nimmano said Thitidej faced a probe over whether he broke regulations by giving an interview to the media without prior consent from his supervisors.
"The probe should be completed within five or seven days. If the probe concludes that he broke the regulations, he will face disciplinary action," Amnuay said.
Amnuay added he had instructed Thitidej not to speak to the media out of concern for Prakitpao's family and Srithanya Hospital.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/02/headlines/headlines_30028307.php
A bedside scene in a private room of an exclusive hospital ward is absolutely 'de rigeur' in local soap operas. Love to film this meeting! Guaranteed that someone throws a temper tantrum: -
Court visits mental hospital to interview Dr Prakitpao
Criminal Court on Friday ordered a visit to a mental hospital in Nonthaburi to interview Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchog, a tutorial king, to see whether he is insane or not.
The order came as the court heard testimony from director of Srithanya mental hospital, Dr Kiettipum Wongrajit.
The hearing on Friday was conducted as Pemmika Veerachatraksit, who has been very close to Prakitpao for nine years, had complained to police that Prakitpao was forced to undergo mental treatment despite being perfectly sane.
She had told police that Prakitpao called her from the hospital asking for help. Therefore, she sought court order for Prakitpao, to be released from the hospital. Pemmika's fight for Prakitpao's release from the hospital attracted media attention.
Meanwhile Prakitpao's family claimed that he was insane, wearing bullet proof jacket and had in possession about 50 guns. According to his family, he always said somebody wanted to hurt him.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/02/headlines/headlines_30028320.php
On the face of it, this seems like a sensible solution to the immediate problems.This case has really unfolded very rapidly over the last 24 hours. It seems to be quite an important step forward that people will persist with complaints when faced with authorities who are obviously over-familiar with one party in a case; regardless of how this judgement eventually goes: -
Court orders transfer of Dr Prakitpao to new hospital
Criminal Court on Friday orders immediate transfer of tutorial king, Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong from Sri Thanya hospital to another mental institute. The Court also postpones its ruling on the future of Prakitpao to next friday.
Prakitpao is ordered to transfer to Public Health's mental institute, Kallaya Ratchanakarin on Friday as doctors at Sri Thanya hospital were criticised of being close to his family.
Court said that it is believed that Dr Prakitpao has mental disorder, judging from what he said to the legal team that he was protected from danger by sacred things.
The orders were made after a group of judges and legal experts visited Sri Thanya hospital in the morning as part of a hearing organised to see whether the doctor has mental disorder or not.
The orders were issued as the court heard testimony from director of Srithanya mental hospital, Dr Kiettipum Wongrajit.
The hearing on Friday was conducted as Pemmika Veerachatraksit, who has been very close to Prakitpao for nine years, had complained to police that Prakitpao was forced to undergo mental treatment despite being perfectly sane.
She had told police that Prakitpao called her from the hospital asking for help. Therefore, she sought court order for Prakitpao, to be released from the hospital. Pemmika's fight for Prakitpao's release from the hospital attracted media attention.
Meanwhile Prakitpao's family claimed that he was insane as he was found wearing bullet proof jacket and had in possession about 50 guns. According to his family, he always said somebody wanted to hurt him.
On Friday, a source who accompanied the legal team to talk with Dr Prakitpao quoted him as saying that he is very worried with Pemika and he wanted to divorce from his wife.
by Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/02/headlines/headlines_30028320.php
Check-up ordered for 'disturbed' tutorial king
The Criminal Court yesterday ordered that Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong be transferred from Srithanya Hospital to the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute for a comprehensive check-up.
The court said Prakitpao appeared to have developed a mental disorder.
The check-up results will be crucial for the court to decide whether to release Prakitpao from Srithanya.
Apichai Mongkol, Department of Mental Health deputy director-general, yesterday said that Prakitpao was mentally disturbed.
"Physical examination of Prakitpao has clearly indicated that he has a mental disorder from the large amount of an addictive substance [believed to be ephedrine], which is 200 times the normal level, in his body - and not from stress or pressure from work. However, we can't tell at this moment how he received the substance.
The symptoms are curable after the body disposes of the substance. But whether Prakitpao fully recovers depends on whether the substance has destroyed his nervous system or damaged his inner organisms," he said.
Prakitpao ran a lucrative tutorial business until his family sent him to Srithanya Hospital as a mental patient on February 19 in murky circumstances. Hours before his admission to the hospital, he was preparing to sign divorce papers.
On February 20, Pemmika Veerachatraksit, now 24, who has been very close to Prakitpao for the past nine years, lodged a complaint with police, saying that Prakitpao had telephoned her for help.
Lt-Colonel Thitidej Intornpan of the Bang Sue police then asked the court to order the release of Prakitpao from Srithanya Hospital.
At 9am yesterday a panel of judges began looking into Prakitpao's case and ruled that his wife did not have the right to block the police request.
After the hospital's director, Dr Kiatipoom Wongrajit, appeared in court without Prakitpao, the judges headed to the hospital and talked to Prakitpao for about an hour.
In the afternoon they announced that Prakitpao did appear to have developed a "mental disorder". To clear up any doubts, the judges said, he should be sent to Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute for a comprehensive check-up.
According to the judges, Pemmika and the police said Prakitpao's family problems and conflicts over his huge fortune could have led someone to inject Prakitpao with a "mind-altering substance".
Upon his admission to the Srithanya Hospital, the level of ephedrine in Prakitpao's body was 200 times higher than normal.
Ephedrine, though common in some medicines, is a mind-altering substance.
By court order, Prakitpao was sent to the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute about 4pm. The institute will examine Prakitpao's mental state in detail and check for any mind-altering substances in his body.
Prakitpao's family members, Pemmika and his medical team from Srithanya Hospital will not be allowed to visit him at the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute.
The court also ordered that Srithanya Hospital submit detailed health files on Prakitpao to the institute, a neutral organisation that has long cooperated with the court.
"The key points here will be whether Prakitpao is indeed ill and whether he is being unlawfully detained," the court's deputy chief judge, Wichai Chang-huana, said.
The next hearing in the case is set for Friday.
Kesinee Tangkhieo,
Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/03/headlines/headlines_30028409.php
PRD National News Bureau 03/03/07:
Family of Dr. Prakitphao asks society to understand the situation
The family members of Dr. Prakitpao Tomtitchong gave a public statement at their residence today (Mar 3), insisting that Dr. Prakitpao’s mental health case was unrelated to personal benefits. They also believed that he had used chemicals that affect his mental illness.
Md. Prakitphan and Mrs. Ploenchit, the brother and the mother of Dr. Prakitpao, the owner of the famous Apply Physics Institution, asserted that Dr. Prakitpao’s unstable mental condition was due to the use of ephedrine, a controlled drug, for at least two months. They said the doctor then acted strangely and became paranoid since October. The family said the allegedly insane doctor was into superstitious activities and they were concerned that it would be harmful to his health and others.
Therefore, the family asked police to help take him to the hospital, and they affirmed that the process was in line with the law. They said they did not want to confine him but they were worried of his mental stability. They also would like him to be treated at Srithanya Hospital on a continual basis.
The family said personal benefits were uninvolved with this case, and the children of Dr. Prakitpao were still happy. His children also said they missed their father. However, Dr. Prakitpao’s brother and mother asked people to understand them because the family was socially and economically affected.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter04
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255003030023
How long do you think it will be before someone interprets this case from a 'sufficiency' standpoint?: -
Doctors worry over legal limbo
Commitment of non-criminals to mental asylums is grey area in the law
The battle over Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong has shaken the confidence of doctors and nurses in charge of admitting the mentally disturbed, the Mental Health Department said yesterday.
"In this case the patient was brought to the hospital by his own family, but someone else complained and asked a court to intervene. Doctors don't know what to do in a case like this," director-general Somchai Chakrabhand said.
Psychiatrists fear someone might appear and dispute the diagnosis of a mental inpatient, he said.
The "tutorial king" was taken by his mother, older brother and wife to Srithanya Hospital on February 19 after he had, as they said, started acting in a paranoid fashion.
However, Pemmika Veerachatraksit, 24, claiming to be a "close female friend", called for Prakitpao's release, claiming he was mentally fit.
The Criminal Court on Friday ordered Prakitpao to be transferred to the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute for a comprehensive check-up.
Somchai said the problem was that there was no law authorising guardians to commit someone for mental treatment. He said it was time there was a mental health act that specified who had legal authority to seek treatment for the mentally ill.
As it stands now, someone with a psychiatric problem can be consigned to a hospital only after committing a crime.
Somchai said he would very soon propose a draft mental-health bill for Cabinet consideration.
Prakitpao's family yesterday held a press conference at their home and blamed Pemmika for their problems and those of the doctor.
Dr Prakitphan, an elder brother of Prakitpao, said Pemmika and a group of people who claimed to be experts in meditation had used psychology to convince Prakitpao that his wife wanted to kill him for the family fortune.
Prakitphan alleged that his brother had become mentally unstable after joining a meditation course with Pemmika and her friends.
He said the group was also responsible for the high level of ephedrine in Prakitpao's body.
He said he would sue Pemmika.
Pleonjit Thomthitchong, Prakitpaos' mother, yesterday said in a six-page open letter to the media that Pemmika had plotted to destroy her family and seize Prakitpao's assets.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/04/national/national_30028448.php
Hypnotism suspected for doctor's behaviour
Tutorial 'king' Prakitpao Thomthitchong has possibly been manipulated psychologically through lengthy and systematic persuasion or hypnosis by people with good skills, Department of Mental Health director-general Somchai Chakkrabhandu said yesterday.
He said it was not only psychologists or trained personnel who could perform hypnosis or systematic persuasion, and added that con artists have regularly duped their victims successfully with well-planned methods and supported by other gang members.
Somchai said strong and effective persuasion could even lead to mass suicides among cult members, as has happened in other countries. He said hypnosis was once used for healing people with mental problems but it could also be practised for non-medical purposes by skilled hypnotists.
Dr Prakitpao is now under care at Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute after being moved from Srithanya Hospital following a Criminal Court order last week on the plea of a woman who claims to have been close to him for nine years. The institute doctors have not issued the latest report on his present mental condition.
Meanwhile, deputy director-general Dr Apichai Mongkol said a new bill to protect people with mental problems would soon be passed.
The bill grants legal immunity to police or state officials who order medical treatment for mentally-ill people without the consent of their families, if the mentally-ill people were abandoned or received no proper care.
Apichai also warned the public against excessive consumption of ephedrine, found in food supplements, and used widely by athletes.
The substance, extracted from ephetra herb, increases heartbeat and stimulates the nervous system but is dangerous if overused.
Ephedrine is widely mixed with food supplements, and is known by the Chinese name Ma Hung. It is sold without licence in Thailand. The US Food and Drug Administration is studying whether to limit the use of ephedrine.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/05/national/national_30028500.php
05 March 2007
Thomthitchong Family ask police to find how ephedrine was found in the body of Md.Prakitpao
The Thomthitchong Family requested the Crime Suppression Division to find how the ephedrine substance has gotten into Md.Prakitpao’s body.
Md. Prakitpan Thomthitchong (ประกิตพันธ์ ทมทิตชงค์), his mother, and the wife of Md. Prakitpao Thomthitchong (ประกิตเผ่า ทมทิตชงค์) who is the owner of the “Applied Physics” Tutoring Institution, traveled to the office of the Crime Suppression Division today. According to Md. Prakitpan, the substance is a catalyst in the production of many types of drugs, especially addictive ones produced in Pakistan, India, and China.
Md. Prakitpan said his brother usually take nutrition powder for body building. As for the speculation that the ephedrine entered Md. Prakitpao’s body as he had took anti-histamine medicine, Md. Prakitpan said it is not likely as anti-histamine does not contain the substance.
At the same time, Md. Prakitpan called for those who used to join meditation practices with Md.Prakitpao and his close friend, Ms. Premika Weerachatraksajit (วีรชัชรักษิต), to reveal themselves and cooperate with the police in the case.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255003050019
Prakitpao 'doped up' on ephedrine: doctors
Police launch inquiry into who administered the drug; university wants to see his friend Pemmika
Private school operator Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong had taken excessive ephedrine, which was believed to have made him to behave erratically a few days before he was admitted to Srithanya mental hospital, authorities said yesterday.
Apichai Mongkol, deputy chief of the Mental Health Department, said Prakitpao had a significant level of ephedrine in his body, most of which should dissipate in two days.
He said Prakitpao's ailment did not directly come from ephedrine but was from its reaction to other substances in his brain, resulting in him suffering from paranoia and psychosis. Prakitpao's faculties should improve to about 80 per cent of normal in about a month.
Apichai said doctors would make their conclusions on his condition for the court tomorrow.
Chulalongkorn University had sent a letter to Prakitpao's close friend, fourth-year student Pemmika Veerachatraksit, demanding she meet with university executives at 1pm today, said Faculty of Psychology's Deputy Dean for Student Affairs Praphaiphun Phoomvuthisarn.
The move followed a call by 10 students yesterday that the university issue warnings about inappropriate behaviour by students and take similar action to Thammasat University and Suan Dusit Rajabhat University over improper dress.
Faculty of Psychology Dean Dr Sompoch Iamsupasit said the faculty wanted to get information from Pemmika first. "We don't want to get the institute involved in a student's personal affairs. We must separate it or it would be unjust for the student and the institute," he said.
Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police, meanwhile, are investigating the high level of ephedrine in Prakitpao as requested by his family, said CSD chief Police Maj-Gen Vorasak Nopsitthiporn.
Detectives will try to find out how he came to ingest the psychotropic substance and report to the Metropolitan Police Command (MPC).
He said Prakitpao would be interviewed when his condition was considered more stable.
Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) secretary-general Kitti Limchaikij said ephedrine could be bought easily in Thailand as it was an ingredient of a ma huang sue Chinese herbal drug sold in Chinatown.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) secretary-general Siriwat Thiptaradol said a random check last year on 50 food supplements found no traces of ephedrine and the FDA was currently checking 21 other products. Results should be available in seven to 10 days.
The adverse consequences of prolonged usage of ephedrine - widely used for weight loss, as an energy booster, and to enhance athletic performance - included insomnia, nervousness, paranoia, psychosis and seizures, heart attacks and death.
The ONCB has reported ya ba drug makers mix the substance with caffeine to enhance the drug's effect. But when the cost of ya ba soars, some dealers used ephedrine to produce a mock ya ba, Kitti said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/07/national/national_30028662.php
The group of students mentioned in the article apparently called themselves the 'Morals Network' and want to take Pemmika to task for a) claiming to be close friends with Prakitpao and thus b) leading people to speculate about them having an adulterous affair. Hopefully my alma mater would have better sense than Thammasat to get mixed up with these matters.
I actually was a former student of Prakitpao, back in the days when you actually had the person teaching in the flesh as oppose to these days when students just see a video-taped lecture. He was actually pretty entertaining.
Good to get some feedback on this! Oh, the pitfalls of popularity! :eek:
Do you think this 'Morals Network' are genuine in their concerns, or have they been put up to it in an attempt to wrongfoot Pemmika's group?
Just like the 'Saudi Jewels' case, I am just a bystander who will never know who is guilty.
Scroll down and read the last line first if you saw Khun Naphat's post on CU here earlier:
Inquiry into Prakitpao's movements over 2 days
The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) is tracing the movements of private tutorial-school operator Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong in the 48 hours before his admission to Srithanya Mental Hospital.
A special team will learn where he went, whom he was with and what he ate and drank in the two days before his admission on February 19 suffering from paranoia and psychosis, a CSD source said yesterday.
Prakitpao, 37, was found to have massive levels of ephedrine in his body. The source said these could have been ingested up to 48 hours before.
A special CSD team will map Prakitpao's life for these two days. Witnesses to his movements would be interviewed.
Prakitpao is at the centre of a drama in which his family said he had begun acting strangely and avoiding them after attending meditation sessions with a group that includes a young woman who says she is "a close female friend". His wife and family admitted him to a mental institution.
Meanwhile, Galaya Rajana-garindra Institute director Sirisak Thitidilokrat said Prakitpao was responding to treatment. He was transferred from Srithanya Hospital to the institute's general facility last week following a Criminal Court order. Doctors meet today to determine his mental condition, and the institute will tell the court of Prakitpao's condition tomorrow.
Sirisak said Prakitpao had been treated according to principles included in draft legislation safeguarding patients' rights and dignity. He said while admitting patients to mental facilities protected society and ensured their care by professions, it deprived them of their freedom, too.
The draft legislation states that non-consenting patients are to be admitted to a facility only if they are a danger to themselves or society or are clearly in need of urgent medical attention.
Sirisak said more than 75 per cent of countries had similar mental-health laws. Thailand does not have such a law on the statute books, in spite of the World Health Organ-isation encouraging all countries to adopt such legislation.
Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla said he was ready to back the draft legislation because it was important that patients unable to speak for themselves were given treatment.
Mental Health Department deputy director-general Dr Apichai Mongkol said he was anxious to hear the court ruling tomorrow.
He admitted the department had said Prakitpao required at least one month's treatment, but it would be difficult to manage without his consent. He was an adult and had committed no offence, he added.
Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Psychology yesterday met student Pemmika Veerachatraksit, 24, at a secret location.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/08/national/national_30028774.php
According to the Thai press, I think the Network acted out of genuine concerns. Which makes it scarier.
By today, they mean Friday, March 8:
Dr Prakitpao unable to make court appearance
Doctors meet for hours to diagnose him; court to rule on matter today
A medical interdisciplinary team at Galaya Rajana-garindra Institute spent more than six hours in a meeting to diagnose the latest symptoms of Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong and concluded he was unable to be present in court today. None of those involved revealed any further details.
A press conference to announce the result of the diagnosis was also cancelled suddenly as the group decided to report the result only to the court.
The Criminal Court will today rule on the future of Dr Prakitpao, 37, who was placed in an institute for the mentally ill by his family.
The hearing today comes after a complaint by Pemmika Veerachatraksit, who insists she has been a very close friend of Prakitpao for nine years. She said Prakitpao was forced to undergo mental treatment despite being perfectly sane.
She sought the court order for Prakitpao to be released from the hospital.
Prakitpao's family claim he is mentally unstable.
The interdisciplinary team included doctors from Galaya Rajana-garindra Institute and outside experts such as Dr Wanpen Boonprakob, a psychiatric expert from the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Dr Witoon Ungpraphan, an expert in Forensic Psychiatry, and Sawaeng Boonchalermvipas, a medical law expert at Thammasat University.
They talked to Prakitpao for about two hours yesterday.
Apichai Mongkol, deputy chief of the Mental Health Department who received the report, hinted: "The diagnosis of doctors at Galaya Rajana-garindra Institute has confirmed what a doctor at Srithanya Mental Hospital diagnosed."
Dr Paitoon Samudsin of Srithanya Hospital had reported that Prakitpao was suffering from a mental illness and had significant levels of ephedrine in his body. The ephedrine was believed to be the cause of his mental instability.
Apichai said the latest blood tests show the ephedrine had been totally eliminated from his body.
"If the ephedrine has been ingested into his body for a short time, he might have been able to recover within around five days, otherwise we might have to spend about a month to treat him," he said.
In a related development on the efforts to find the source of ephedrine, Crime Suppression Police (CSD) yesterday ordered Pemmika to meet with them on Thursday.
The CSD has been tracing the movements of Prakitpao in the 48 hours before his admission to Srithanya Hospital as it was presumed the ephedrine might have been ingested into his body during this time.
CSD received "useful information" after questioning members of the Thomthitchong family, but they refused to reveal any details.
A source said that among "several places" Prakitpao visited during the two days were a luxury condominium in the Saphan Kwai Area and a location outside Bangkok. Police are inquiring about witnesses who were with Prakitpao at the condominium.
According to the source, Pemmika was among those with Prakitpao during the two days before he was admitted.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/09/national/national_30028859.php
What a bloated business this tutoring malarkey has become! it isn't hard to figure out that this case has become convoluted precisely because the whole tutoring industry has become a way to make a fast one; not only for the owners, but for those very ordinary teachers who tell their normal school classes, "Ok, that's all you're getting out of me - I'll finish this class off if you come to my tutor class this evening at S**** A*** Tutor". OK! I appreciate that many ordinary teachers are still not quite able to pay off their numerous debts, but the huge growth of tutors is said by some to be having a dreadful effect on the education system. Students have also told me that they resent these businesses eroding their free time by creating classes that parents seem almost obliged to pay for.
But I digress. If Naphat is still around, is it Pemika or Premika? These articles often change the spelling half-way through:
Absence of Dr Prakitpao from Srithanya Hospital list is just human error
When the tutorial king, Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong was initially admitted to Srithanya Hospial last month, his name was not in the registration list, hospital director Dr Kiettiphum Wongrajit told Criminal Court on Friday.
He blamed the absence of Dr Prakitpao's name on the human error.
The issue was raised in court Friday and continued through out most of the afternoon.
Dr Kiettiphum was testifying at the hearing of a much-publicised case over the mental state of Prakitpao.
The absence of his name from the list was raised by an investigating officer who pointed out the irregularity behind what was supposed to be a hospital procedure but fell short of making any conclusion.
A former student of Prakitpao, Pemika Wirachatrakkit, filed complaint to police that the doctor's family, who ran lucrative tutor schools, sent him to Srithanya Hospial against his will.
Pemika brought the case to court, asking the court to free the doctor. The Court Friday heard testimonies from both sides.
While Prakitpao has been kept out of the public's eye, Premika has taken the lead speaking publicly on his behalf. She described herself as "a very close friend" of Prakitpao.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/09/headlines/headlines_30028923.php
Hearing on Dr Prakitpao's mental state to be continued on Monday
The Criminal Court will continue its hearing into a complaint that "tutorial king" Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong was illegally held at a mental hospital on Monday.
......
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/09/headlines/headlines_30028923.php
The Criminal Court Monday ruled not to release tutorial king Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong from mental institution.
Prakitpao is now being treated for mental disorder.
Last month, police asked the court to order the release of Prakitpao based his close friend's complaint that he was illegally held at the Srithanya Hospital.
Prakitpao's mother sent him to the mental hospital on February 19 while he was preparing to sign divorce paper.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30029101
Tutor's wife to sue 'friend' of husband
(BangkokPost.com) - Alisa Tomtitchong, wife of the tutor Dr Prakitpao, now known as the "mad doc," said she intends to file an immediate lawsuit against her husband's "female friend" Pemika Veerachatraksit, demanding 200 million baht from her for adultery.
Mrs Alisa said family lawyer Thonglang Paengsrilakhorn would file the suit at the Central Juvenile and Family Court.
Mrs Alisa said Dr Prakitpao has been a family man and never financially supported Ms Pemika, who claimed to be his close female friend.
She also expressed confidence that the high ephedrine drug level found in his body was the reason for the change in his behaviour - paraniod when with his family and thinking that Mrs Alisa would want to kill him for money.
In another development in the hi-so drama, Dr Prakitpan, older brother of Dr Prakitpao, requested the meditation group that assisted Ms Pemika in developing Dr Prakitpao's mental illness to contact him. He said he is willing to ask them to be witnesses to convict Ms Pemika if they agree to reveal how they duped the tutor.
Dr Prakitpan said it would take a while before his brother returns to normal and that the family will then explain to him what happened.
The daughter and son of Dr Prakitpao visited their father at the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute, a mental hospital where he is being treated, Tuesday morning. Dr Prakitpao was reportedly very happy to see both of them.
10:52 Mar 13, 2007
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_previous.php#
Is Pemmika/Premmika being sued for 27 million (below) or 200 million (previous post)? Probably the former!:
Pemmika sued for Bt27 million
The wife of Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong - the tutorial king who is now receiving treatments for his mental disorder - Tuesday sued a university student for Bt27million compensation over alleged extramarital affairs with her husband.
Alisa Thomthitchong, as the plaintiff, assigned her lawyer Thonglang Paengsrilakorn to file the lawsuit with the Central Juvenile and Family Court against 24-year-old Pemmika Veerachatraksit.
The court accepted the lawsuit and summoned the disputed parties to a meeting on May 22.
Pemmika is a fourth-year student at the Chulalongkorn University (CU).
Recently, the young woman has caught media limelight after accusing Prakitpao's family of sending him to a mental hospital despite the fact that he was perfectly sane.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30029203
Mental hospital to be open for public
In the wake of public scepticism surrounding Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong's admission as a mentally-ill patient, Mental Health Department director general ML Dr Somchai Chakraphan plans to allow public visits to psychiatric hospitals.
"The visits will be part of our effort to make the public understand psychiatric services," Somchai said. He said the visits would be arranged in a way that would not affect patients.
Last month, a young woman accused the Srithanya Hospital - one of the country's oldest mental hospital - of treating Prakitpao despite the fact that he was perfectly sane.
On February 19, Prakitpao's mother and elder brother sent him to the hospital.
On Monday, the court ruled that there was nothing untoward with Prakitpao's hospital admission.
In a related development, Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla yesterday said Prakitpao's case reflected that society did not understand how to identify mentally ill patients.
Mongkol said, "It requires a psychiatrist to identify mental illnesses in a person and to give proper treatment."
He said the Mental Health Department had prepared mental health draft laws to protect the public and help those who are mentally ill. The draft is intended to ensure that mentally ill patients receive treatment to help them recover and not pose a threat to others.
The draft said the admission of mentally ill patients to a psyฌchiatric hospital would be mandatory in events that the patients are dangerous and need treatments, or that they lack the ability to make decisions by themselves as to whether they should receive treatments.
An informed source said the Public Health Ministry planned to table the draft law before the Cabinet next Tuesday.
Mongkol said laws on mental health had already been in force in various countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Austria, Sweden, France, Japan and Malaysia.
Across the world, it is estimated that there are some 450 million people living with mental disorder - which also covers symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, stress and alcohol abuses.
In Thailand, a 2003 survey found that about 20 per cent of the population had mental problems, most commonly stress. It said these people needed counselling otherwise the accumulated stress could lead to mental disorder.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/13/headlines/headlines_30029192.php
So, it is the role of universities to punish adulterers and those who wish to dress unconventionally. :confused: :University must punish Pemmika says Culture Minister
The Culture Minister urged Chulalongkorn University to take action against its fourth-year psychology student Pemmika Veerachatraksit, believing she broke school discipline due to an alleged affair with another person's husband.
Pemmika, 24, who claimed to be a longtime close friend to Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong, was on Tuesday sued by Prakitpao's wife, Alisa, for Bt27 million for having an affair with her husband since mid2006.
Alisa also accused the student of speaking publicly about her intimate relationship with Prakitpao, giving details that implied the pair was lovers.
Culture Minister Khunying Kaisri Sriaroon said the behaviour of Pemmika was 'improper' and as a student, being accused of having an adulterous affair should be taken as guilt.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30029301
Dr Prakitpao drug was not ephedrine - expert
Laboratory tests have revealed that Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong, the founder of a chain of physics schools committed recently to a mental hospital, had only elevated levels of pseudoephedrine - not the more dangerous ephedrine.
Pseudoephedrine is a common ingredient in cold remedies and rarely produces adverse psychological affects.
Experts said its prolonged use could cause insomnia and stress but not neurological damage.
"Pseudoephedrine can't be the cause of his illness," Ramathibodi Poisons Centre director Professor Saming Kaocharoen told a news conference on Monday.
Prakitpao, 37, has been at the centre of a public drama since his family said he began acting strangely and avoiding them after meditation sessions with a group that includes a young woman described as "a close female friend". His family admitted Prakitpao, who runs a lucrative chain of tutorial or "cram" schools, to a mental institution.
"Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are very similar in structure," Saming explained.
Ephedrine has been a hot topic since tests on Prakitpao after his admission to Srithanya Hospital on February 19 showed excessive levels of the substance.
The stimulant can produce seriฌous mental disorders and the presฌence of massive amounts in Prakitpao raised eyebrows. The friend Pemmika Veerachatraksit complained to police of alleged "murky" circumstances surroundฌing his hospitalisation.
The Criminal Court has ruled Prakitpao's committal was not unlawful because he was ill and required treatment.
During the court challenge Prakitpao was moved from Srithanya to the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute, where he remains.
Saming, an expert on toxic substances, said Monday he had "suspicions" about the earlier test results and raised these with the institute.
The latest tests employed gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The two techniques are combined to form a single method of analysing mixtures of chemicals. The technique is used in the Olympic Games and other events to detect drug cheats from those who simply ingest legal medicines.
Saming explained the new tests used the same urine samples subฌmitted for the first analysis, which had employed high-pressure liquid chromatography. He commended Srithanya Hospital for checking patients for substances that could cause mental disorders.
"It's common sometimes that a second lab test is needed," he said.
Saming informed the Crime Suppression Division about the new findings. Police have been investigating how Prakitpao came to have elevated ephedrine levels.
Psychiatrists at both Srithanya Hospital and the institute have ruled out ephedrine as the cause of Prakitpao's illness and the latest findings will not affect his treatment.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/19/headlines/headlines_30029678.php
TRangsit
20-03-07, 01:22 PM
Not all the details have come forward...but it does seem like they are out to get this student. I am curious about what is the mental state of this Dr currently.
How bad is or was his case? Shouldn't he share (if not take most of) the blame in having an affair?
Family to decide Prakitpao's liberty
Dr Prakitpao Thomthitchong, the head of a chain of physics tutorial schools, has recovered and could leave hospital if his family agreed, the Mental Health Department said yesterday.
Prakitpao, 37, was admitted to Srithanya Hospital on February 19 by his family. It said he began to act in a strange manner and was avoiding them after attending meditation sessions with a group that included a young woman described as "a close female friend".
He was transferred on a court order to the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute on March 2, where he underwent comprehensive checks.
Department deputy chief Apichai Mongkol said: "He is much better now. There are only non-serious conditions that need to be treated. The patient can be discharged if the family agrees."
Apichai said Prakitpao was only expected to be admitted for one month but the term was extended because of delays in treatment owing to the court-ordered transfer.
Recent tests revealed Prakitpao only had elevated levels of pseudo-ephedrine - not the more dangerous ephedrine. Pseudo-ephedrine is a common ingredient in cold remedies and rarely produces adverse psychological affects. It was not the cause of his illness, experts said.
Asked if Prakitpao was aware of widespread news-media interest in his case, Apichai said the patient had been shielded from information due to concern for his condition. He would be told when he was better.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/22/business/business_30029925.php
Friend of 'mad doc' sues his wife, brother
(BangkokPost.com) - The "female friend" of famous tutor Prakitpao Tomchitchong sued his wife and brother on Tuesday on defamation charges.
The lawyer for Pemika Veerachatraksit filed a case at the Bangkok criminal court, claiming that Dr Prakitpao's wife Alisa and his brother Prakitpong accused her of drugging him and using psychological pressure during their television interview and newspaper interviews. This defamed her, she claimed.
The court accepted the case and the first hearing is scheduled on Aug 20.
Dr Prakitpao's wife filed a 27 million baht lawsuit against Ms Pemika in March, accusing her of adultery with her husband.
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=118916
This is a restoration of a missing message originally posted by GWR on June 15, 2007.
***************
---Quote---
*'Mad doc' says he is cured
*
(BangkokPost.com) - Well-known tutor Prakitpao Tomchitchong appeared in front of the media for the first time Friday since he was treated at a mental institute a few months ago, saying that he is cured.
"I was sick and I'm cured," Dr Prakitpao, owner of the famous tutorial school Applied Physics, told reporters at Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute. "I'm almost ready to go back to work."
The 37-year-old Prakitpao is at the centre of a drama in which his family claims he began acting strangely and avoiding them after attending meditation sessions with people including university student Pemika Veerachatraksit, who claimed to be his close female friend. He also wanted to divorce his wife.
His wife and family admitted him to Srithanya mental hospital on Feb 19 and he was later transferred to the institute.
Dr Prakitpao said his mental problem was developed from group psychology created by meditation friends against whom he will carry on the family's lawsuit.
He also said he loves his family and never wants to divorce his wife. But he asked her to divorce him because of the psychological problem, which made him loose control of himself.
He also denied conflicts of interests among family members in the tutorial school.
---End Quote---
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=119467
***************
no word what happened to Pemmika and the lawsuit filed against her by Prakitpao's wife.....
Tutor Prakitpao says he had bipolar disorder (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Jun2007_news08.php)
Famous tutor Prakitpao Tomchitchong yesterday broke four months of silence to declare he had suffered from bipolar disorder, and urged people to donate to a mental institute which has brought back his ''lost consciousness''. His family decided to admit him to Srithanya hospital on Feb 19 after noticing changes in his behaviour since late last year. The 37-year-old tutor was later treated at the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental illness that causes abrupt mood changes.
''Now I am 100% better,'' Dr Prakitpao told a seminar held to mark the 36th anniversary of the institute. "I would also like to invite you to make a donation to the Galaya Rajanagarindra Foundation. I found during my stay there many patients cannot afford to pay for the costly treatment.'' Dr Prakitpao said he had to take 23 tablets that cost him 1,000 baht a day while being treated at the institute. Psychiatrists have advised him to take drugs in smaller amounts for another two years. He was discharged from the institute early last month. He and his family donated 50,000 baht and a computer set to the institute, which treats up to 230 patients.
The tutor also gave moral support to psychiatric patients and their families, saying that mental illness could be cured. He looked relaxed while replying to reporters yesterday, who centred their questions on earlier suspicions that he might have been poisoned by his family in a bid to separate him from his female friend Pemika Veerachatraksit. However, toxicologists found no trace of the psychotropic drug ephedrine in his urine, as earlier suspected. Ms Pemika, a fourth-year student in psychology at Chulalongkorn University, earlier asked the court to order Srithanya hospital to release Dr Prakitpao because she did not believe he was mentally ill as claimed by his family.
Dr Prakitpao yesterday confirmed that he suffered from bipolar disorder and thanked his family for taking him to the hospital. He also denied being in conflict with his family over the revenues made by his tutorial school, founded by his parents, or having any intention to divorce his wife, Alisa. ''I love my wife and my children very much. The divorce is the last thing I would think of,'' he said.
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