Editorial | Medical blunder case underscores issues related to healthcare
- Doctors at Hong Kong public hospital escape manslaughter charges but the outcome makes clear that greater efforts are needed to address funding, staffing and other problems that are overburdening the sector
Solemn reflection is in order after the Department of Justice dropped a high-profile manslaughter case against two public hospital doctors accused of a medical mistake that cost the life of a patient six years ago. The result of the case should encourage greater efforts to address funding, staffing and other issues for the overburdened sector.
Prosecutors told Eastern Court on August 29 that the charges fell short of criminal prosecution standards and were withdrawn after careful consideration of the Prosecution Code.
Lam Chi-kwan, 50, and Chan Siu-kim, 46, each faced a count of manslaughter over the August 26, 2017, death of Tang Kwai-sze. An alleged mix-up of drug prescriptions was blamed for the 44-year-old’s acute liver failure. Multiple surgical procedures failed to save the mother of two.
The Medical Council had already found the pair guilty of professional misconduct in September 2021.
The court case was closely followed in a city where most patients use the public health system and many wondered whether doctors could be held criminally liable for a patient’s death. The charges, which could have resulted in life sentences, sent shock waves through the medical community.
The health minister and Hospital Authority chief voiced concern about the feelings of medical professionals. Doctors worried about inadvertently breaking the law while providing everyday treatment.