In a case of pure WTF-ness, a 75-year-old hospital patient died on Sunday soon after a hard object — reportedly a shower head — was inserted into his anus during a shower.
According to Sing Tao, the alleged attacker, a female patient care assistant, was bathing the victim at Tuen Mun Hospital, where he was being treated for end-stage renal failure.
Police have been called in to investigate after being notified by the Hospital Authority.
In a statement released yesterday, authorities said the “highly concerning” case came to light after the patient complained to Medical Rehabilitation Ward staff last Saturday about — and again, WTF — having a hard object inserted into his anus during a shower.
According to a hospital spokesman, quoted in the statement, the patient’s condition began deteriorating shortly after his complaint.
A colonoscopy examination by a surgeon and a physician found an ulcer of about 2 centimeters in length in the patient’s rectum, which was found to have been perforated, according to the statement. Staff recommended an “urgent operation,” but the man declined and died on Sunday night.
The hospital carried out an internal investigation and, after speaking with the patient’s relatives, decided to report the case to police.
“[Tuen Mun Hospital] expresses deep condolences to the patient’s relatives, while the Patient Relations Officer will render necessary support to the relatives,” the statement read.
“TMH has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office and referred the case to the Coroner for follow up.”
At a press conference today, the man’s son, surnamed Wong, criticized the hospital’s handling of the case. He slammed the delay in referring the case to police and demanded authorities suspend any staff members involved.
He added that, prior to the incident, his father’s condition had improved and the family was planning to take him home.
The son told reporters that he feels like he “fell from heaven into hell”, and that although his dad had been unwell, he had nevertheless been content and said he would have been “happy to face death on the same day” until the alleged attack.
