Summary of the controversy "Chinese father" filed a complaint "renowned Chiang Mai hospital" after the body of his one-month-old son went missing; hospital has now issued a statement
On 12 March 2026, reporters reported that Mr. Fang (Fang Peng Cheng), a Chinese businessman in Chiang Mai province, submitted evidence to record a complaint at Phuping Police Station in Mueang Chiang Mai district regarding a renowned hospital in Chiang Mai city that lost the body of his one-month-old son from their mortuary unit.
Mr. Athipong Phonchai, the lawyer, revealed that in November 2025, Mr. Fang's son, born one month prematurely at a private hospital in Chiang Mai and requiring surgery, was transferred to this hospital because the private hospital was not prepared. However, within a few hours after transfer, the son died on 8 November 2025 before surgery could be performed. Forensic doctors conducted an autopsy following procedures.
However, the autopsy results made Mr. Fang suspicious and doubtful about their accuracy because they did not align with the infant's condition when transferred from the first hospital. Consequently, on 4 December 2025, Mr. Fang filed charges against the doctors and related personnel for "negligence causing death" and requested a second autopsy at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Siriraj Hospital. While arranging this with Siriraj Hospital, the body was kept at this hospital's mortuary.
Later, Siriraj Hospital agreed to conduct the autopsy. On 11 March, Mr. Fang went to collect his son's body to send it to Siriraj Hospital but found it missing. After searching for several hours without explanation, he filed an official report in the evening as evidence. If the hospital cannot find the body, he will press charges for "damaging, moving, destroying, devaluing, or rendering a body useless without proper cause."
The lawyer added that all the information, especially regarding the missing body, is clearly documented by the hospital. Such an incident should not happen at a major hospital. After filing the report, police will send an inquiry letter to the hospital and inform the victim of the results.
Pol. Col. Sinothai Lilittham, superintendent of Phuping Police Station, stated that an investigation has been ordered. Coordination with the hospital is underway to examine treatment procedures and the handling of the body to determine how the body went missing and whether negligence was involved. The hospital has personnel directly responsible for body storage, who will be questioned following procedures.
Most recently, Chiang Mai Maharaj Hospital issued a statement concerning "Clarification on the treatment and management of the body of a deceased one-month-old male infant" The statement said that regarding concerns about treatment and management of the deceased one-month-old male infant's body, Chiang Mai Maharaj Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, would like to clarify the facts as follows.
The one-month-old male infant was born prematurely at 30 weeks gestation, weighing 1,014 grams at birth. He was referred from Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai to Chiang Mai Maharaj Hospital on 7 November 2025 at 16:23 due to partial intestinal obstruction. The medical team provided treatment according to standard protocols. However, the patient was in critical condition and died on 8 November 2025 at 07:12.
The hospital conducted an autopsy by forensic specialists on 11 November 2025. Pathology results indicated death was caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), with no evidence of intestinal rupture or inflammation as suspected. The family was informed of the autopsy and pathology results.
Before and after the autopsy, the body was kept in the hospital's mortuary unit following standard procedures, awaiting family collection. On 11 March 2026, when the family came to collect the body for further examination, it was found missing from the mortuary.
Preliminary investigation suggests there was an error in the management process of this deceased's body. A detailed fact-finding inquiry is underway. The hospital has filed a complaint with Phuping Police Station and appointed a committee to investigate all related processes in the mortuary unit. The family and their representatives have been informed of the preliminary findings. Chiang Mai Maharaj Hospital will report the investigation results in due course.
Important medical evidence, including pathology tissue samples, pathology photographs, and medical records, remain intact and available for further examination. The hospital has informed the family and their representatives about the preservation of these materials.