Clinic faces damages writ in malaria death
The family of a Cathay Pacific flight attendant who died after catching a deadly strain of malaria that went undiagnosed has filed a claim for damages against the clinic and doctors who treated her.
Christophe Gabriel Vahlas, the husband of Akiko Chinen, has filed a High Court writ against doctors Gilbert Tien and Gavin Lau Chun-hung and the Quality Healthcare Medical Centre Limited.
Mr Vahlas and the couple's daughter, Hana Manon Vahlas, three, are seeking damages and further relief.
The writ says the family is claiming for damages 'incurred as a result of the failures in medical treatments suffered by the deceased' following her consultation with Dr Tien at the Causeway Bay clinic on December 7, 2001. Chinen also had a consultation with Dr Lau four days later, the writ says.
She died on December 14 from cerebral malaria. A coroner's inquest heard the two general practitioners mistakenly diagnosed her as suffering from influenza.
The court heard they failed to ask where she had travelled, despite knowing she was a flight attendant.
Chinen contracted the fatal form of falciparum malaria after being bitten by a mosquito during a visit to a game park outside Johannesburg in late November 2001.
When she first saw Dr Tien, she was told she 'probably had the flu' and was given Panadol and lozenges. Dr Lau saw Chinen the day before she was rushed to the Canossa Hospital in a disorientated and semi-conscious state.
She told Dr Lau she had had a high fever for four days, with vomiting and diarrhoea.
The jury returned a unanimous verdict of 'death by natural causes to which neglect contributed'. But in November last year, a judicial review sought by Dr Tien found that coroner William Lam Kui-po erred when he asked the jury to consider that verdict.
Mr Justice Michael Hartmann ruled the verdict should now be read as death by natural causes - meaning Dr Tien was deemed not to have had any part in her death.
