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Heart surgeon blamed for girl's death

Agnes Cheung

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl died after a top surgeon 'misjudged' her condition after a heart operation, a hospital committee found.

Li Jia died in October after surgery carried out by Dr Zhong Bingtang at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.

A report by the hospital's medical committee classified the case as 'first degree faulty medical treatment'.

It recommended that the hospital authorities order medical staff involved to write self-criticisms.

The committee also said the staff should be 'dealt with seriously according to their attitudes towards the case'.

Jia's mother, Zheng Hong, earlier accused the hospital, which was built with donations from Hong Kong media tycoon Sir Run Run Shaw, of responsibility for her daughter's death after an operation to treat her heart defect.

Ms Zheng accused the hospital of misleading her by saying it had the best medical facilities and skills.

She also complained of wrongdoing on the part of Dr Zhong.

Yesterday, he denied he had done anything medically wrong in the operation.

The surgeon said Jia's death had been caused by complications which developed after the operation.

He refused to speak further, referring all questions to the hospital authorities.

In its report on November 27, the hospital's medical committee said Dr Zhong had failed to judge Jia's condition precisely, and added she had developed complications because of a lack of oxygen after the operation.

The surgeon failed to take adequate measures to tackle her condition which led to her death, the report said.

A doctor from the hospital yesterday said it would bear any responsibility and adhere to the final ruling on the case.

Dr Lu Duan said the hospital was waiting to see if Jia's parents would accept the committee's findings - or appeal to higher authorities for another ruling.

'We are still liaising with the family,' Dr Lu said.

'We hope that there will be a favourable outcome soon.' The doctor also denied that the hospital was only prepared to pay 3,000 yuan (HK$2,790) compensation to the family, adding the amount was subject to negotiation.

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