Press Releases
SFH on complaint against doctor at intensive care unit of Tuen Mun Hospital
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and
Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, before attending the meeting of the Panel on Health
Services of the Legislative Council this afternoon (November 18):
Reporter: Is there a universal guideline for doctors to deal with critically
ill patients?
Secretary for Food and Health: It is very important that in any
circumstances the doctors in charge must act according to the best interests
of the patients in making any clinical decision. In this respect, if a
patient still has the capability to make personal decision, the patient's
preference will prevail. If the patient is left into a situation that he or
she might fall into coma or is not in a capacity to make personal decision,
the clinicians must make professional decisions according to the interests
of the patient. The Hospital Authority has three different sets of
guidelines under this situation. Firstly, there is a set of guidelines on
making resuscitation decision for patients who are judged clinically to be
futile in receiving any further treatment. Secondly, there is also a set of
guidelines regarding the advance directive given by patients when he or she
still has a capacity to do so. Thirdly, there is also a set of guidelines
regarding in general the terminal care for patients who are critically ill.
Reporter: Is that true that the particular doctor did not follow the proper
guidelines?
Secretary for Food and Health: Yes. An investigation by the Hospital
Authority did find that the doctor had not followed exactly all these
guidelines and might also need improvement in terms of communications with
the patient's family.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, November 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:24
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