Call to hold Hong Kong clinic accountable after patient dies during endoscopy, wife later says: ‘I never imagined going for a check-up can be fatal’
- Concern group says legal ‘loophole’ around provisional licence may absolve clinic of blame, but lawmaker assures public that doctors are still accountable to Medical Council
- Lai Shiu-hong, 43, suffered from cardiac arrest during procedure, leaving behind wife, one-year-old son and five-year-old daughter
The family of a patient who died during an endoscopy at a private clinic in Hong Kong has accused the doctor and medical centre of negligence, with the case centred around the administration of a “powerful” anaesthetic.
A concern group helping the family raised concerns on Thursday over a “loophole” in regulation that could allow the clinic to escape consequences.
Lai Shiu-hong, 43, suffered from cardiac arrest during an endoscopy despite an attempt to resuscitate him. He was later sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital but documents showed he died before arriving at the facility.
Lai had suffered from stomach problems, and went to Precision Spec Clinic in Ocean Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, to see Dr Lau Pong-mou in May upon recommendation by his insurance agent, according to his wife.
He was later diagnosed with abdominal pain, as well as issues with belching and irregular bowel habits. To investigate his symptoms, upper and lower endoscopies were conducted at Precision on June 10.
Lai is survived by his wife, one-year-old son and five-year-old daughter.
“Until this moment, I am still thinking if I am in a dream, and if everything will go back to the way it was after I wake up,” wife Priscilla Ho, 38, told a media briefing on Thursday.