The latest report by the Hospital Authority has found that there were at least four serious medical malpractice cases, one of which the surgeon confused left and right by operating on the patient’s left chest to drain away excess liquid only to find out that the doctor meant to write “right” on the patient’s medical records. This blunder was not discovered until they took an x-ray. Luckily, it was discovered early and fixed and the patient is now doing alright.
Other patients were not so lucky. One case involved a doctor who left a vacuum tube inside a pregnant woman while giving birth, which was used to assist the birth. She was in pain for 23 days after birth before having the foreign object removed, which caused serious damage to her vagina. Although she underwent a check-up three days later, the doctor did not discover the foreign object and allowed her to leave the hospital. Another two cases involved metal implements left inside patients bodies, and administering the wrong dosage of dangerous drugs.
We wish we could stay out of public hospitals, but unfortunately expensive private health care is not an option for everyone.
Source: The Sun
Photo: Toshiyuki IMAI, Flickr
