**********************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Tung Wah Hospital (TWH) announced the following medical incident today (Friday, February 29, 2008):
Tung Wah Hospital on February 26 (Tuesday) found that the biopsy results of the prostate biopsy examination of two patients (a 69-year-old man and a 72-year-old man) had been swapped, which resulted in delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer in the 69-year-old male patient and unnecessary treatment of the 72-year-old patient.
The 69-year-old male patient was scheduled to have an operation on February 26, 2008, and his medical records were reviewed by the Urologist-in-charge on February 22 before the operation. It was found that there were discrepancies between the two examination results of this patient taken in January and October 2007. After investigation and verification by the Department of Pathology, it was confirmed that the specimen in January 2007 did not belong to this patient. DNA testing of the two specimens was conducted subsequently and it was confirmed that they were swapped.
The two patients are now in stable condition. Regarding the 69-year-old patient, the result of a subsequent bone scan and magnetic resonance image scan concluded that there is no indication of metastasis and arrangements for appropriate treatment will be made shortly. The hospital today disclosed the incident and extended apologies to both the patients and their families. At the same time, the hospital will provide appropriate assistance to them.
After the incident was revealed, the department concerned immediately reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office (HAHO) and the hospital management according to the HA Sentinel Event Policy. The hospital will set up an investigation team to follow up on the incident and the investigation report is expected to be completed in six weeks' time. The investigation team will be chaired by Dr Man Chi Wai, Consultant in the Department of Surgery of Tuen Mun Hospital and the immediate past President of the Hong Kong Urological Association, with other members including Dr John Chan, Consultant in the Department of Pathology of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and Mr Alan Wong, Cluster General Manager (Nursing) of Hong Kong West Cluster.
Following the incident, the hospital has immediately reviewed the relevant operational procedures including patient identification, labelling and transportation arrangements, and also notified the relevant units and hospital staff to avoid recurrence of a similar incident in future.
Ends/Friday, February 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:16
NNNN
