Medical blunders at Hong Kong hospitals point to overstretched public health care system
Albert Cheng says while those responsible for the mistake that contributed to Tang Kwai-sze’s liver failure must be held accountable, Hong Kong must also try to address the wider issue of critical staff shortages in public hospitals
Two specialist doctors at the United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong, both with 10 years of experience, had apparently failed to check her medical history thoroughly when she was being treated there for kidney disease. They prescribed a high dose of steroids for Tang, who suffered from hepatitis B, but did not give her the needed antiviral drugs to prevent devastating side effects.
It was only after the transplant team at Queen Mary spotted the irregularity and informed the patient’s family that the United Christian management admitted the mistake. United Christian found out about the blunder on April 6. Yet, two weeks passed before it notified the Hospital Authority of the mistake, on April 20, after Tang’s family started asking questions. This violated the authority’s protocol of flagging serious incidents within 24 hours.
Panels to investigate if Hong Kong hospital and doctors covered up liver patient blunder
