The family of a 63-year-old woman who died two months after surgery to remove gallstones sought legal aid yesterday to sue Tseung Kwan O Hospital. The family, which has accused the hospital of negligence, alleged that Chu Mak-tai's intestine was perforated during the May 8 operation. Shing Chi-man, whose mother died in July, arrived at the Legal Aid Department's offices in Admiralty yesterday accompanied by his father and legislator Andrew Cheng Kar-foo. Mr Shing said the family was not seeking financial compensation and simply wanted the hospital to take responsibility for the death. Mr Shing's mother underwent surgery to remove gallstones on May 8, but her condition did not improve and she underwent a second operation in June. When her condition continued to deteriorate, the family requested a transfer to another hospital. Chu was eventually transferred to Queen Mary Hospital, where she died on July 18. Mr Shing said that after the first operation, he was told by a doctor that his mother's duodenum had been perforated. But he was later notified by the hospital that the damage was caused by the movement of the stent - an expandable wire or perforated tube - placed in her bile duct, after the operation. 'They [the hospital] must be hiding something,' he said. Mr Shing said he was unable to sleep after the hospital informed him of his mother's condition. 'My mother was having fevers every day after the surgery, but the hospital said there was no problem,' he said. 'My family and relatives on the mainland were so worried, they took the train to come [to Hong Kong] immediately.' Mr Shing said his father, Shing Kwok-chik, was still mentally and physically exhausted and distressed by the death. 'My mother's death has had a big impact on my father. He had to quit his job and now just needs some rest.' Mr Shing urged the hospital to take responsibility. 'For now, legal action seems to be the only way to resolve this matter.' A spokeswoman for the Legal Aid Department said the Shings' application would be processed as soon as possible.
