Health & Community
Coroner to review tracheostomy case
September 06, 2013
The Hospital Authority will refer a patient's death to the Coroner for investigation, after foreign material was found in his tracheostomy wound.Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man said today the preliminary investigation by the hospital involved could not identify the reason the foreign object was discovered inside the patient.
"For patients with an artificial tracheostomy, the clinical care should be very vigilant. Therefore, the discovery of any artefact inside the artificial tracheostomy would be a matter of concern.
"Since the preliminary investigation by the hospital could not identify any reasons [for the case] or sources of this particular artefact discovered, the Hospital Authority considered that this case should be referred to the Coroner for investigation. Staff will do everything to co-operate with the investigation."
On the investigation into the Prince of Wales Hospital's cardiology services, he said the authority has formed an independent review committee and stated the possibility of inviting independent overseas experts to assist in the investigation.
