Thailand hospital nursing assistant accidentally severs toddler's finger

A one-year-old boy suffered a severed fingertip at Somdet Phra Yuppharat Loeng Nok Tha Hospital in Yasothon province, Thailand, during a medical procedure on September 11. The incident occurred while a nursing assistant was using scissors to remove the gauze and tape securing an intravenous (IV) line as the child was preparing for discharge.

The boy was immediately transferred to Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani, where a specialized surgical team performed two operations to reattach the finger. While doctors reported the reattachment was successful, the child’s long-term functionality and nerve recovery remain uncertain, and he has experienced pain and breathing difficulties following the procedures.

The hospital has issued a public apology, suspended the nursing assistant involved, and launched an investigation into its safety protocols. The hospital also provided the family with a gift basket and 4,000 baht in compensation, a gesture that has drawn scrutiny on social media. The family has filed a police report and intends to seek further legal action and long-term compensation through the Ministry of Public Health.