The Hospital Authority argues that Sars drugs will only harm foetuses under 14 weeks old, but lawmakers fire a warning
Medical staff more than 13 weeks pregnant will not be granted paid leave despite the risk of becoming infected with atypical pneumonia.
Hospital Authority chairman Leong Che-hung announced new leave arrangements for all staff early in their pregnancy, saying it was based on medical findings that showed the anti-viral treatment being used to combat severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) may cause deformities to foetuses less than 14 weeks old.
Dr Leong gave assurances that employees who were more than 13 weeks pregnant would be deployed in 'low-risk' wards, adding that the authority would consider special cases.
In response, however, several legislators argued that the policy for pregnant staff should be extended beyond 13 weeks to minimise the health risks to both mothers and their unborn babies. They also warned that the authority could not escape legal claims or moral responsibility should anything happen to pregnant staff.
Justin Wu Che-yuen, of the Chinese University's Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, told the South China Morning Post that the anti-viral treatment - which includes Ribavirin - could cause serious side effects to foetuses up to 16 weeks old, adding there was no guarantee that the treatment would be completely safe to the foetus after that period.