Patients robbed after thieves spike water with animal sedative

[BalanceOfPower]

Patients robbed after thieves spike water with animal sedative

Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation October 12, 2013 1:00 am

A notice posted inside Ramathibodi Hospital yesterday warn patients about criminals using a sedation drug and robbing them.

"Watch out!" the Public Health Ministry is warning all hospital users nationwide, after the recent sedation of a number of patients at major Bangkok hospitals when they unwittingly ingested a dangerous drug.

Hospitals around the country have been urged to tighten security measures to prevent a gang of thieves suspected of having stolen patients' belongings - as well as the property of visiting relatives - after offering them "doctored" water that renders them unconscious.

The warning comes after the Medical Services Department (MSD) received a report from Ramathibodi Hospital that members of a gang had lured patients and their relatives in the outpatients' ward into drinking water that they were offering "as a gesture of hospitality".

However, the water had been mixed with the colourless and odourless sedative and muscle relaxant Xylazine and, after the victims fell unconscious from drinking the toxic liquid, the robbers stole their property.

The MSD said that use of the drug - generally administered by veterinarians for sedating and anaesthetising animals - could place a patient or other human user at risk of death.

Phayathai police investigator Pol Lt-Colonel Banyong Dammankong yesterday said that since the beginning of the month, at least three people had reported being robbed in this way at three hospitals: Ramathibodi, Priest and Rajavithi. After investigating a suspected perpetrator who appeared on closed-circuit television at Ramathibodi Hospital, he has issued an arrest warrant for a 30-year-old man for theft of a patient's property using such a method.

"This suspect had been pretending to offer hospitality and friendship to patients and their relatives, after which he would ask them to drink the mixed water to make them unconscious, before steal belongings such as mobile phones," Banyong said.

The investigator said he had also sent a team of police to search for other gangs that might use the same method to rob people at other hospitals.

Meanwhile, MSD director-general Suphan Srithamma said he had instructed medical workers at state hospitals across the country to keep a close watch in outpatient wards for strangers who might be members of such a gang. "Patients who are not able to take care of themselves would be at [particular] risk of theft by these gangs," he said.

Xylazine is a drug used for sedation, anaesthesia, muscle relaxation and analgesia in animals such as horses, cattle and other non-human mammals.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is registered and classified as a dangerous medicine. People are allowed to buy the drug without a doctor's prescription, as it is intended for non-human use.

Generally, veterinarians inject Xylazine into an animal's blood vessel. About five minutes after receiving the drug, the injected animal will become sedated and anaesthetised.

It will be under the influence of this drug for about 20 minutes, during which surgery can be performed.

Meanwhile, in humans, anyone taking the drug would become sleepy and develop a change in blood pressure. Affected people would breathe slowly and have high a level of sugar in their blood, as well as a very dry mouth.

To alleviate the toxin in the drug, anyone who ingests Xylazine is advised to see a doctor immediately and to take Yohimbine, which is used to increase peripheral blood flow.

Meanwhile, Ramathibodi Hospital has issued an announcement to warn patients and their relatives that there is a gang at large pretending to be medical staff, but intent of stealing their valuables.

They are urged not to receive food or water from any strangers, and not to leave their food and drink unattended.

In a development reported late yesterday, a Ramathibod Hospital official said the latest drugging incident had been reported during the morning.

"The victim is a hospital official," she said. The incident took place in Building 1, but the victim did not lose any belongings, she said, without elaboration.