Press Releases
SFH receives reports on two medical incidents
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, today (February 17)
stressed that health care workers should endeavour to save lives because it
is their professional duty.
He also noted that health care workers should always be compassionate,
respect patients and their families and try their best to discharge their
duties prudently.
His remarks were made today when he received reports submitted by the
Hospital Authority (HA) on a medical incident that occurred last December at
Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) and on the missing body of a baby boy at Pamela
Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH).
On the CMC incident, Dr Chow learned that the HA had identified the
responsibility of the staff concerned and taken disciplinary actions
accordingly. The HA had also asked the CMC to improve the contingency
measures in dealing with emergency incidents.
He said: "Shouldering the responsibility for mishandling the incident is
necessary. It is more important that the HA staff can learn from the
incident and establish the culture of serving patients in the hospital and
take patients' benefit as their priority."
Dr Chow said he was disappointed that the investigation panel on the missing
baby body in PYNEH was unable to establish the actual occurrence of events
that led to the incident.
He said: "The Government and the HA have devoted a lot of resources in
improving the management system of mortuaries over the past few years. It is
totally unacceptable that the family of the patient has to go through
unnecessary suffering if the case is caused by human error.
"I have asked the HA to handle the responsibility of the staff concerned
solemnly and take appropriate disciplinary action. Meanwhile, the HA should
revisit the management system of mortuaries to prevent similar incidents
from happening again."
In general, Dr Chow added: "I understand these two incidents have attracted
a lot of public concern over the professionalism of our public health care
services. However, I firmly believe that the majority of HA staff are
working earnestly and passionately and they are also trying their best to
serve Hong Kong people.
"I look forward to seeing our health care workers discharge their duties
professionally, and with devotion and dedication in providing quality
healthcare services to members of the public."
Ends/Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:30
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