An inquest into the death of a hospital patient who allegedly had air pumped into her veins instead of her inflatable pillow was adjourned yesterday to avoid a conflict of interest among lawyers.
An operating theatre attendant said to be responsible for plugging in the tube at Queen Mary Hospital was represented by barrister Francis Yip Kim-ming, who was instructed by the Justice Department.
He would be pitted against the Coroner's Officer - also appointed by the Department of Justice.
The problem arose because the attendant, attached to the Hospital Services Department, had kept civil servant status instead of joining the Hospital Authority, which was represented by a private lawyer.
Coroner John Saunders urged the department to employ an independent lawyer for the next hearing. Otherwise both the department and the Coroner's Office would be represented by the Government.
He said such a move was crucial as the family of the woman, 82-year-old Chung Sai - who died immediately after last April's alleged blunder - might consider legal action.
