Probe starts on post-transfer death of Princess Margaret patient

Princess Margaret Hospital will come under an investigation over whether nurses who briefly removed oxygen supply from a patient who later died had made a proper assessment before doing so.

Dr Nancy Tung Sau-ying, chief executive of the public hospital in Kwai Chung, apologised yesterday for the death as the two nurses, both said to be distressed, went on annual leave.

The 57-year-old patient, who had advanced motor neurone disease, was being transferred between cubicles in the same ward of Princess Margaret's rehabilitation block on Sunday afternoon when the nurses halted her oxygen supply from a respirator.

She later suffered cardiac arrest twice. The second time round, the family agreed to stop resuscitation efforts.

The Hospital Authority yesterday set up a five-member investigation panel that would submit its report in eight weeks.

"In general, when using one of these non-invasive respirators and there is a need to suspend it, a detailed clinical risk assessment should be carried out on the patient to see if any other arrangements are needed," Tung said, referring to breathing support that does not involve a tube insertion.