Patient admitted twice for back pain dies of pneumonia
A woman died of pneumonia after being admitted twice to Princess Margaret Hospital and treated for back pain.
Last night a hospital spokesman said the woman, surnamed Wong, was admitted to a surgical ward for back pain on June 27 and discharged the next day. Her age was not given.
She was readmitted to an orthopaedic ward on July 2 for the same reason.
He said the patient was stable and able to eat on her own and a doctor believed saline drips and glucose injections were unnecessary.
The spokesman said the woman vomited on July 8 and was prescribed drugs for the condition.
At about 6pm the next day, she became ill while eating. Doctors treated her until 11pm, when she died of pneumonia.
The spokesman said the hospital had explained treatment procedures to the family and had provided appropriate treatment.
Meanwhile, a former airport security guard who hit her head on a sign in August 2005 filed a complaint yesterday with Princess Margaret Hospital, claiming misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment caused two years of headaches and neck pain.
Li Lai-ping, 50, alleged that doctors at the hospital did not take her case seriously, forcing her to suffer.
She said the doctor at the accident and emergency department only examined her casually and ignored her headache complaints.
The hospital said it was following up Ms Li's complaint.
