An acupuncture patient died as a result of an air pressure problem that occurred as 1.5cm needles were being stuck into his chest in an attempt to cure a chronic lung disease, a coroner found yesterday.
Coroner Michael Chan Pik-kiu recorded a verdict of accidental death in the case of hairdresser Lui Yip-yee, 65, who received acupuncture from Chinese-medicine practitioner Wong Yan-po on September 23, 2000.
The coroner said Lui died on his way from the acupuncture treatment centre in Causeway Bay to Tang Shiu Kin Hospital as a result of an abnormal presence of air between the lung and the chest cavity that caused a collapsed lung.
Testifying yesterday, Mr Wong, who told the court he had more than 40 years' experience in acupuncture, said the needles were too short to have pierced through the chest wall and he had not pressed them too deep.
The court heard it could not be ascertained whether the chest wall had been punctured.
Mr Wong said he had advised Lui to see a doctor before performing the acupuncture as Lui's lung disease had been serious.