Hong Kong doctor in liver patient death case says he failed to prescribe key drug as he had been ‘distracted’
- Lam Chi-kwan admits he did not prescribe antiviral drug as he was distracted by ‘phone ringing’ and ‘people entering the room’ to see him
- His patient, Tang Kwai-sze, mother of two, succumbed to liver failure at United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong on August 26, 2017
A Hong Kong public hospital doctor linked to a liver disease patient’s high-profile death seven years ago told a Coroner’s Court on Monday that he did not prescribe a necessary antiviral drug during consultation because he was “distracted”.
Lam Chi-kwan admitted that he failed to prescribe an antiviral drug to Tang Kwai-sze, a hepatitis B carrier, on January 20, 2017, although he did give her an immunosuppressive steroids drug.
“During our consultation and prescription process, I believe I was facing distractions such as my phone ringing and people entering the room to look for me,” he told the inquest before Coroner Monica Chow Wai-choo and a five-person jury.
“As doctors, we are not allowed to switch off our phones or lock the doors of our consultation rooms.”
Lam admitted that he knew that prescribing antivirals to hepatitis B patients alongside a large dosage of steroids would prevent a relapse of the virus, and failing to do so would have consequences including liver failure.
About 7 to 8 per cent of the virus carriers could develop symptoms of hepatitis if they were taking a high dose of steroids without antiviral drugs, Lam said citing local data.
