Hong Kong hospital under investigation after suspected medical blunder leaves teen half-paralysed
Health minister Sophia Chan said there would be a full report of what happened at United Christian Hospital, which has previously been accused of other cases of negligence
Third-party experts will investigate a suspected medical blunder at United Christian Hospital that left a 15-year-old girl half-paralysed after one of her arteries was wrongly pierced during a medical procedure, Hong Kong’s health minister said on Sunday.
Commenting on the incident for the first time, Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee said she was deeply concerned and that the Hospital Authority, which manages all public hospitals in the city, would provide all necessary help to the patient and her family, including counselling.
Hong Kong teenager left partially paralysed after suspected medical blunder
Family members of the Form Four girl on Saturday accused medical staff of the Kwun Tung hospital of committing multiple errors when treating the girl for an inflammation of her spinal cord. They said they hoped the hospital would admit its liability.
The girl is now in intensive care at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and cannot stand or sit.
Asked by a reporter if United Christian Hospital had covered up its mistake, Chan did not respond to the question. She only said that the hospital had reported the incident to the Hospital Authority and third-party experts would now investigate what had happened.
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“[The investigation] is now underway,” Chan said. “During this period, the Hospital Authority, especially United Christian Hospital, will continue to communicate with family members, answer their questions and provide assistance. When the report is completed, the [authority] will inform the family and provide an explanation.”