Surgical light maker embroiled in Hong Kong safety scare over falling fixture has past US record of product issue: concern group

A manufacturer embroiled in a safety scare involving surgical lights in Hong Kong’s public hospitals has a previous record in the US of a missing screw in its product, a concern group has warned as it urged local authorities to review existing risk-alert mechanisms.

Tim Pang Hung-cheong, a patients’ rights advocate with the Society for Community Organisation on Tuesday said the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last December received an adverse-event report on a surgical light, involving the same brand in the recent incident in Hong Kong.

A staff member at United Christian Hospital on Saturday sustained a shoulder injury after being hit by a falling device due to loose screws. The case sparked an investigation and safety checks on surgical lighting across public hospitals. The device last underwent a maintenance check in December.

“The model reported to the FDA may not be the one involved in Hong Kong but it comes from the same manufacturer,” Pang said, naming Getinge as the maker at the centre of the saga. “The investigation should look into whether local authorities are aware of and follow up on foreign risk alerts.”

According to the FDA website, European medical technology company Getinge had reported a case involving a surgical light made in France under brand Maquet, stating “the screw was missing from main tube”.

“There was no injury reported, however, we decided to report the issue in an abundance of caution as a missing screw from the main tube could lead to a fall of the device and as a result of that, could lead to serious injury,” the FDA said.

A Hong Kong expert earlier deemed the recent case in the city as an unprecedented event.