Hong Kong hospital finds no medical condition to explain why girl’s heart stopped
- Hospital Authority chief executive Tony Ko also refuses to say whether human error played role in leaving Lai Sum-yuet with brain dysfunction
A young girl who suffered cardiac arrest and was left with brain dysfunction after she got stitches for a head wound at a public hospital in Hong Kong had no genetic diseases or specific medical conditions, according to authorities.
But Hospital Authority chief executive Tony Ko Pat-sing refused to say on Monday whether human error played any role in leaving Lai Sum-yuet, who recently turned five, in critical condition after the treatment.
Ko pledged, however, to boost guidelines involving the care of children.
“I sincerely apologise to the family. During the meeting, we assured them that the hospital, particularly the medical team, will continue to make every effort to take care of Sum-yuet.
“We also promised to provide the necessary assistance and support to their family members.”
Sum-yuet is in the paediatric intensive care unit at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy – a dysfunction of the brain caused by a lack of oxygen and reduced blood flow.