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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
In response to media enquiries, the spokesperson of Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) gave the following reply:
Two patients suffering from a serious and rare oncology disease had been under care at PWH. In view of their serious condition and the unsatisfactory result of the treatment plan used in the past, the Departments of Clinical Oncology of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the hospital tried to adopt an augmented treatment protocol developed by a renowned clinical oncology centre in the United States for the treatment of the two patients. As the treatment would involve certain risks, the department had explained to the patients the treatment plan with its potential complications and obtained their consent.
After receiving the treatment, the condition of one of the patients is well under control at present and making good progress. The patient had no neurological problem and was not paralysed as reported in a newspaper today. The progress of the other patient was however unsatisfactory. The condition of this patient had been serious all along and neurological symptoms were found on admission. These neurological symptoms have not improved after the treatment. The CUHK and the Hospital's Clinical Oncology Departments are conducting an in-depth study to review the applicability and suitability of that treatment protocol. At present, the two patients are staying in PWH in stable condition.
PWH reiterated that there were no medication or other errors in the clinical management of the two patients. As such, the cases are not classified as sentinel events.
Ends/Monday, August 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:35
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