18
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1989
"I CAN ALSO CONFIRM THAT ALL OPERATING
IN SUCH A WAY AS SOURCE.
"
THEATRES ARE DESIGNED
TO GUARD AGAINST CONNECTIONS то THE WRONG GAS
MR CHAU SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO ADVISED ALL SUBVENTED AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS TO TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO ENSURF THAT THE OXYGEN STORED IN THOSE INSTITUTIONS WAS IN FACT OXYGEN AND THAT THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF THE WRONG GAS BEING ADMINISTERED TO PATIENTS.
CHECKS CARRIED OUT BY THOSE HOSPITALS SINCE SATURDAY
THAT THEIR OXYGEN SUPPLY WAS IN GOOD ORDER, HE SAID.
CONFIRMED
DR LEONG'S QUESTION WAS: "IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT MISHAP INVOLVING A PATIENT BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED WITH A WRONG GAS DURING AN OPERATION, WILL THE ADMINISTRATION INFORM THIS THE EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS OVER OF MEDICINE, GAS AND GASEOUS PRODUCTS FOR USE IN PUBLIC, AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS?"
COUNCIL OF THE SUPPLY SUBVENTED
MR CHAU SAID THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE THE EMERGENCY MEASURES IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS UNTIL THE REASON FOR THE MISTAKE IN QUESTION HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AND PERMANENT STEPS HAD BEEN WORKED OUT TO PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF A SIMILAR INCIDENT IN THE FUTURE.
"THE DEPARTMENT HAS
||
ADVISED ALL SUBVENTED AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS TO DO LIKEWISE, HE ADDED.
MR CHAU EXPRESSED THE GOVERNMENT'S DEEPEST SYMPATHY то THE FAMILY OF THE DECEASED, AND SAID HE WAS SURE THIS WAS FELT BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
"I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT, AND I AM SURE MEMBERS WILL UNDERSTAND, THAT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO COMMENT ON THE PARTICULAR FACTS OF THE TRAGIC CASE TO WHICH THE QUESTION REFERS, HE SAID.
│
"THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE POLICE AND A REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE CORONER FOR HIM ΤΟ CONSIDER WHETHER AN INQUEST SHOULD BE HELD.
**
MR CHAU ALSO SAID: AS SOON AS WE HAVE THE FULL REPORT OF WHAT OCCURRED IN THIS CASE WE SHALL WORK OUT URGENTLY WHAT LONG TERM ARRANGEMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THERE CANNOT AGAIN BE A CASE WHERE THE WRONG GAS IS USED IN AN OPERATION."
ON EXISTING LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS. MR CHAU SAID THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE GOVERNED THE MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION AND SALE OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SAFETY, QUALITY AND EFFICACY OF SUCH PRODUCTS, THERE WERE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS COVERING THE REGISTRATION OF PRODUCTS AND THE LICENSING OF IMPORTS, IMPORTERS, RETAILERS, WHOLESALERS AND LOCAL MANUFACTURERS, HE SAID.
/"INSPECTIONS OF