Independent Probe Over Partially Paralysed Girl

The Health Secretary, Sophia Chan, says independent experts will look into the case of a teenage girl at risk of being left half-paralysed after a suspected medical blunder.

The girl's family has accused a doctor at the United Christian Hospital of mistakenly piercing an artery while treating her for inflammation of the spinal cord. The girl then suffered a stroke that paralysed the left side of her body.

She’s been transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and doctors there warn may never regain the use of her left arm and leg.

Chan said she is highly concerned about the case, and pointed out that the hospital had reported it to the Hospital Authority. She says the authority would provide all necessary help to the patient's family and would explain the matter to them after the investigation.

Earlier, on Saturday, Democratic Party legislator James To, who’s been helping the family, urged the United Christian hospital to offer compensation.

He said: "We feel they should admit liability and negligence on their part. However it seems that they just catagorize it as a kind of natural accident.

"However according to the very senior doctor, the consultant at QE hospital, they have never seen such a serious error, and it's an avoidable incident."

Last year a lack of vigilance by doctors, caused in part by a heavy workload, was blamed for another medical blunder at United Christian Hospital which left a patient's liver in such poor condition she needed a transplant and later died.