A doctor in Svay Rieng province may face legal action after a patient he prescribed medicine to on Thursday morning died just hours later.

The victim, Pheng Saran, 42, was a resident of Svay Chrum commune’s Khnor Khang Tbong village and leaves behind a wife and three sons.

Commune police chief Yin Chenda said relatives of the victim filed a complaint with police which he forwarded to the Svay Chrum district police station. The case has been sent to provincial police, where it awaits further action.

Chenda said on Thursday morning, Saran suffered from heartburn while eating breakfast. He visited Hor Savanna, a doctor in Svay Rieng town’s Chek commune.

Sovanna prescribed six medicines for Saran to take over seven days, Chenda said. At 9:20am, Saran took his first dose. At 11am, Saran started feeling heartburn symptoms and suffering convulsions. Relatives massaged his hands and legs until he passed away at 12pm.

The provincial police’s serious crime bureau chief Kim Lay on Sunday said Sovanna had compensated the family of the victim.

“That doctor paid money to compensate the victim’s wife. But I don’t know how much,” he said.

Svay Rieng town deputy police chief Mao Sokhon told The Post on Sunday that Sovanna didn’t attempt to flee after the incident.

“I know that he compensated the wife. I don’t know how much, but both sides reconciled,” he said.

Village chief Som Chhoeun said a seven-day memorial service for Saran commenced on Sunday morning.