Hong Kong girl Chau Tin-yu, 8, left in vegetative state during surgery 4 years ago dies
- Chau Tin-yu’s family had revealed on Thursday that she had not been able to digest food for two days
- During surgery in May 2020, a blood transfusion was delayed by 48 minutes and Tin-yu’s heart stopped beating for 52 minutes
An eight-year-old Hong Kong girl who was left in a vegetative state by an incident during surgery four years ago died on Sunday evening after life support was stopped, according to sources.
Chau Tin-yu’s family said on their social media page last Thursday that she had not been able to digest food for two days and had been vomiting.
Healthcare workers had to pump her stomach to remove milk and stopped feeding her. She had to instead rely on glucose solutions.
Staff had also stopped drawing blood from her to avoid causing pain. They said taking blood from her veins was no longer possible due to frequent withdrawal, but collecting blood by skin puncture would be too painful.
Her father, Eddie Chau, who is battling cancer, also revealed in the post that his cancer index had returned to a normal level of 2.8, from a peak of 27, after 55 sessions of radiotherapy and four of chemotherapy.
Chau said he had three more sessions of chemotherapy and more checks to go: “Daddy’s condition has improved, let’s give it our best together!”
Tin-yu was four when she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer, and had chemotherapy and radiotherapy which shrank the tumour to a size suitable for removal.
But during surgery at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam in May 2020, a blood transfusion was delayed by 48 minutes and her heart stopped beating for 52 minutes. She emerged from the operating theatre in a vegetative state.
The parents had been living with depression following the incident, while also caring for their 10-year-old autistic son.
Her family launched a civil lawsuit against the Hospital Authority three years ago and the two sides reached a settlement in October.
The family moved into a new flat last year and she returned home for a few days in November, but her condition deteriorated and she had to return to hospital.
Her father told the Post in January that he had come to terms with the fact her life was “counting down” and that they were prepared for the worst.
“We can never control what happens in our life,” he said. “The only thing we can do is to cherish the moment and let go of unnecessary obsessions.”
Chau said the family had already been through the most depressing part of Tin-yu’s struggle and were bracing for the final episode.
“We have mentally prepared ourselves, but when the moment comes, we may be a bit sorrowful,” he said. “I tell her, if you want to take a rest and go to sleep, daddy understands and respects you.”
The Post has contacted him for comment.
