Cell phones really are dangerous
scmp.com
Tuesday, October 26, 1999
Surgeon operated 'while on phone'
ELLA LEE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A surgeon used a mobile phone to discuss the sale of a car while performing an operation, it was alleged last night.
The patient, who was undergoing keyhole surgery in Queen Mary Hospital, had only been given painkillers and sedatives and said he was aware of what was going on around him.
The operation - carried out five months ago - was intended to remove a polyp on the man's colon, but the surgical instrument broke through the colon wall.
As a result, the patient, a taxi driver, had to undergo further surgery the same day for inflammation of the abdominal wall and now has scars on his stomach.
"During the endoscopic [keyhole] examination, I found the doctor was talking. I was surprised because the conversation had nothing to do with my medical condition," the man said on TVB news last night.
"The conversation was about buying a car and how much the car cost."
It is understood the hospital issued a circular to all staff after the incident, warning them not to use mobile phones during operations.
Hospital chief executive Dr Vivian Wong Taam Chi-woon said that if the allegation was proven, the mistake would be considered "very serious".
She said doctors should concentrate on patients during operations.
Sources close to the investigation said that if the doctor was found guilty he would be likely to face punishment.
The chances of bursting the colon during such a procedure are estimated at one in 1,000.
It is understood the doctor involved has at least nine years of experience.
Lilian Lau Sau-han, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Patients Rights' Association, called for the Hospital Authority to look into the matter urgently.
"If something like this happened it would be a breach of medical and professional ethics. Talking over the mobile phone has not only affected his performance, the phone itself could have interfered with the medical equipment."
Ms Lau said the authority should investigate if such practices were common.
"To be fair to the public, the authority should also refer the case to the Medical Council."
Dr Lai Kang-yiu, president of the Hong Kong Public Doctors' Association, said it was inappropriate for doctors to talk on the phone about non-medical matters during operations.
"But if the doctor needs to make an urgent and important decision for another patient, it would be necessary for him to have a quick conversation on the phone [during an operation]."
|
