Department of Health seeks clarification from Hong Kong Adventist Hospital over refusal to treat injured protester who was later arrested
- Hospital admits turning away injured patient – who was later arrested at another facility
- Protesters and rights group accuse the hospital of unethical behaviour
The Hong Kong health authority is seeking clarification from a private hospital that refused to treat a patient with a “suspicious wound” – and then reported the person to police.
Hong Kong Adventist Hospital in Tsuen Wan on Friday admitted to turning the patient away from its emergency ward at 10.30pm on June 12, the day violence erupted in Admiralty after protests against the government’s extradition bill turned violent.
Hospital workers reported the matter to police, telling them the patient had mentioned seeking treatment at nearby Yan Chai Hospital, where the arrest was made.
Alex Lan, the private hospital’s president, said police visited the clinic at about 6pm that day and asked staff members to report any suspicious injuries related to “Admiralty conflicts”.
Lan said there were notices in the lobby that said the hospital might be required to provide information to relevant authorities depending on the circumstances. He said the signs asked patients to consider whether to seek treatment there.
A patients’ rights group and protesters accused the hospital of being “unethical” for refusing to treat a patient and said it had violated patients’ privacy by calling the police.