Woman, 70, passed out and died after receiving local anaesthetic for surgery
A 70-year-old woman passed out shortly after the start of an operation to remove fat from her abdomen and later died, a coroner was told yesterday.
Cardio-pulmonary and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation failed to revive piano teacher Lam King-fong, who fell unconscious after being given a local anaesthetic, a witness said at a Coroner's Court hearing. Lam died on the way to hospital, coroner's officer Stewart Hau said.
Lam was receiving the liposuction operation at the private clinic of plastic surgeon Franklin Li Wang-pong in Tsim Sha Tsui on the morning of August 28, 2003. She was previously in good health except for minor ailments such as occasional headaches, skin allergies and low blood pressure, the coroner was told.
Tang Lai-sheung, one of two nurses assisting the operation, said Dr Li had administered local anaesthetic by injection.
The patient stopped responding shortly afterwards.
