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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following announcement on a medication incident today (January 23):
A 66-year-old female patient in a UCH medical ward with chronic illnesses passed away on January 18. In reviewing her medical records on January 21, it was revealed that the patient had been prescribed a prolonged course of steroid in early November 2013.
According to the medical records, the patient with a history of end-stage renal failure and multiple chronic illnesses was admitted to the medical ward of UCH on October 25, 2013, due to acute bronchitis. She was discharged on October 29 and was prescribed an oral steroid (Prednisolone 25mg) for a fixed period of six days. During her follow-up consultation in the UCH medical specialist out-patient clinic on November 6, the same dose of steroid for a three-month course was prescribed.
The patient had taken the medicine according to prescription. She was admitted to UCH again on January 7 due to severe pneumonia. Her condition improved after medical treatment. However, the patient developed sudden cardiac arrest due to other chronic illness and succumbed on January 18. A clinician reviewed her medical records afterwards and it was believed that she had been wrongly prescribed with a prolonged course of steroid for three months on November 6.
The attending doctor, a senior doctor of the Medical and Geriatric Department and the Patient Relations Officer of UCH have met with the patient's relatives to explain the incident in detail and expressed deepest condolences. UCH will continue to render necessary support to the patient's relatives. The case has been referred to the Coroner.
The incident has been reported to the Hospital Authority (HA) Head Office through the Advance Incidents Reporting System. UCH will set up an investigation panel to identify the root cause of the incident and recommend improvement measures to prevent similar incidents in future. The investigation report will be completed in eight weeks and submitted to the HA Head Office.
Ends/Thursday, January 23, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:35
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