May's botched boob job, Poo comes clean, Poj's revenge

‘Don’t trust the doctors’

May

Former singer Jeeranan “May” Kitprasan is suing a Korean hospital for 60 million baht after a horrific breast enlargement surgery ordeal which resulted in her admission to ICU and a five-month recovery at a Thai hospital.

Opening up about the saga last week, May said she wanted her case to serve as an example of why the public should not trust the medical profession too easily. Her lawyer, Wanchai Sornsiri, who is digging in for what could be a 2-5-year legal battle, said his client was determined to go all the way.

May, who had silicone implants inserted during the 80,000 baht operation at a Korean hospital last December, after making contact with their local clinic in Bangkok, said she was told the recovery time would take a month, including one week in which she would have to wear a blood drainage bag.

In fact, wounds from the surgery bled so heavily she was forced to wear a drainage bag for two weeks, including on her return trip to Thailand in seek of further medical care.

She could also barely walk and needed her mother’s help to perform basic tasks. Meanwhile, a Thai agent for the hospital with whom May made initial contact, after reading on her FB site enthusiastic patient “reviews” of the hospital’s work posted by internet celebrities, models and the like, was slow to get in touch, she said.

However, May said she is most upset about the secrecy of the doctors in Korea, who were reluctant to accept they had made a mistake.

“When the initial one-week recovery period after surgery had passed, the bleeding still had not stopped and the doctor told me he could not remove the drainage bag as he had hoped.

“However, he insisted everything was OK and that I could get the bag removed at their clinic in Bangkok. If I wanted to return, I should go. He said he would fly to Bangkok himself a few days later to remove the bag. However, he still had me empty it out every day, which I found out later was hazardous as it could expose me to further risk of blood infection.

“He also had me take the flight back with the drainage bag still attached to my body, which he admitted they had never had a patient do before,” she said.

May, who posted to Facebook images of her in her hospital bed wearing a chest brace and looking terrified, said she also battled skin infections, fever and extreme pain after the operation. She learned later she had picked up a blood infection known as pseudomonas aeruginosa, which patients usually contract only in hospital settings.

“I felt like acid was leaking into my breasts, I could barely walk. My mother had to help me to the toilet, feed me, sponge me ... my agent visited just once, when I came out of the operating theatre.

“Back in Bangkok, my fever failed to abate and I was eventually admitted to ICU. One doctor gave me just a 10% chance of survival. 

“I needed another three operations, including one to remove the silicone implants, and had to spend another five months in hospital recovering.

“In short, the hospital in Korea didn’t want to admit they had made a mistake, so sent me back to Thailand,” she said.

Meanwhile, the hospital’s agent in Bangkok, Russarin “Oum” Chusinkawiphat, insisted she did what she could for May’s family. Oum said she had her own breasts enhanced by the same surgeon, as had models and net idols, and she had no complaints. She was distressed when she heard May had been admitted to hospital in Bangkok, and was in touch throughout her ordeal.

Oum said she had also been involved in talks with the hospital’s owners after May’s family demanded they pay for their mistakes. May has demanded 60 million baht for loss of earnings, plus pain and distress.

After two rounds of talks, the Korean hospital said it was prepared to pay almost 1.5 million baht for medical expenses, reimburse 441,000 baht for the operation and compensate her another 1.2 million baht for loss of earnings.

May’s mother called off talks after they failed to make progress. Oum, who has also received a legal demand from May’s side related to the case, said she would have to let the law take its course.

Speaking after Oum’s defence of her actions, May said she felt as if the hospital didn’t care that she almost lost her life. The case continues.

Poo won’t be badgered

Poo

Veteran folk musician Pongsit “Poo” Kamphee admits assaulting a fan after he badgered him too many times for an autograph as the rocker was having a meal in Buri Ram.

Poo, a persistent critic of youth hooliganism at his concerts, came under fire this month after a clip emerged of him and his entourage striking a fan at an eatery.

"The behaviour you see in the clip is mine. It’s as clear as day; only a dog would deny it. I will take whatever penalty the law dishes out,” he said.

Fan Ithipon Keanninsiri laid a complaint with Buri Ram police after the July 5 incident, when he said Poo and his bodyguards hit him after he pestered the rocker for autographs and photos.

Earlier, Poo’s drummer, Udon Teelakul, says netizens had criticised Poo unfairly since the clip emerged. “The other table was egging for a fight and wouldn’t let up. P’ Poo posed for pictures four or five times. Isn’t that a little too much?

“On top of that, they were shouting, needling us, showing no respect. They said we would have to agree to a picture no matter what, as they were the local owners of the patch.”

Poo said everyone has his limits and the complainant pushed him too far.

“You can tease, harass, annoy, but just don’t do it too long. I felt as if he pressing down on like a great weight and I just lost my patience,” he said, while taking a dig at netizens who rushed to judge based on an edited clip with no audio.

“People who looked at that clip and leaped to judgement even though they didn’t hear from the other side ... it speaks to their intelligence,” he said.

“It’s all over now. I didn’t see the complainant again, as I don’t want to know him,” he said. Police have not said what penalty they are likely to impose.

Poj stays away from caves

Poj

Outspoken director Poj Anon has complained to police about netizens who fabricated stories claiming he intends to make a film about the Chiang Rai cave rescue drama.

Poj, who earlier denied he plans to invite the 12 boys rescued from Tham Luang cave in the northern province to make a movie about their ordeal, visited Technology Crime Suppression Division police last week to lay a complaint. He is also laying a separate complaint with local police for defamation.

The outspoken director, who confusingly issued a casting call on social media for those interested in playing the boys, said last week he had never said he would cast the teen football players and their coach in the film, as the issue was too sensitive.

As overseas and Thai film-makers are supposedly scouting locations and laying plans to dramatise the international rescue saga, Poj is wary of claims he wants to exploit the boys’ plight to make money.

The director, who is well-known for casting non-actors from real-life dramas which have made it into the news, said he would not contemplate such a move, as recreating the rescue would cost a fortune.

“Whether I make it is up to me. But I will tell you honestly, I have never thought about doing it, because it’s a sensitive matter. I told a TV show that the coach has an interesting history, but I still didn’t think of casting him.

“The important thing is, if you make this movie, you would need a huge budget, not the 20-30 million baht I am used to spending on a movie ... even 200 million baht wouldn’t be enough,” he said.

Poj said netizens intent on harming his reputation had doctored a movie poster of his from five years ago, Make Me Shudder, to make it appear as if the teen actors in the comedy horror, who visited a haunted house, were actually stuck in a cave.

“Keyboard warriors have abused me after seeing the stories which this bunch fabricated. Even taxis and cleaners have been asking if I intend to film it.”

Poj, who has sued netizens before for taking his name in vain, late last week welcomed news police had caught one of the culprits. He said he believes 10-12 people are behind the campaign.