Mentally disabled Hong Kong man dies after struggle with hospital staff over straitjacket
- The 33-year-old patient was admitted to the general ward at Eastern Hospital last month after developing pneumonia, fever and cough
- After he grew agitated, staff tried to put him into the restraining vest but he suffered a heart attack and later died
A Hong Kong man with mental disabilities died after struggling with hospital staff trying to put a straitjacket on him and the case has been sent to the Coroner’s Court, health authorities said on Saturday.
The 33-year-old patient was admitted to the general ward at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan on August 26 after developing pneumonia, fever and cough. He also suffered from diabetes.
The patient repeatedly climbed in and out of bed the following night and staff used wrist restraints to secure him after contacting one of his family members, the Hospital Authority said. The patient was calm and cooperative at that time.
But a few hours after midnight, he grew agitated and started banging against the bed rail, prompting staff to change the limb restraints to the straitjacket.
He “struggled vigorously during the exchange to a safety vest” and became short of breath with signs of an obstruction in his upper airway, according to the authority. He went into cardiac arrest and staff resuscitated him, discovering his mouth was bleeding and his tongue was swollen.