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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1994
COMAC RELEASES DETAILS OF CASE
THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS, MR ANDREW So, (THURSDAY) RELEASED FOR THE FIRST TIME DETAILS OF A COMPLAINT CASE TO HIS OFFICE.
TODAY
MR
SPEAKING ON "FROM THE FILES OF COMAC" AT A LUNCHEON MEETING, SO SAID IT WAS THE FIRST EVER REPORT HE PUBLICISED UNDER THE REVISED LEGISLATION PASSED IN JUNE THIS YEAR.
THE LEGISLATION GIVES HIM THE POWER, INTER ALIA, TO PUBLICISE ANONYMISED INVESTIGATION REPORTS AT ANY TIME.
THE REPORT WAS ON A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST A PUBLIC HOSPITAL. THE COMPLAINANT'S WIFE DIED SUDDENLY AND RATHER UNEXPECTEDLY, THE NEXT DAY AFTER ADMISSION INTO HOSPITAL.
AS THE DEATH OCCURRED IN THE EARLY MORNING, AND THE COMPLAINANT WAS ASLEEP AND COULD NOT BE REACHED BY TELEPHONE, THE HOSPITAL STAFF LEFT THE MESSAGE OF THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE ON HIS ANSWERPHONE.
THE COMPLAINANT FELT THAT THIS WAS IMPROPER.
HE ALSO COMPLAINED AGAINST THE HOSPITAL FOR NOT AUCEDING TO HIS REQUEST TO VIEW HIS WIFE'S DEAD BODY UPON HIS RUSHING TO THE HOSPITAL.
THE COMMISSIONER'S INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HOSPITAL STAFF HAD MADE A TOTAL OF 12 ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE COMPLAINANT BY TELEPHONE, SINCE HIS WIFE'S CONDITION BEGAN TO DETERIORATE, RINGING BOTH HIS HOME AND OFFICE NUMBERS, BUT ALL TO NO AVAIL.
THEY ALSO SENT FOR THE LOCAL POLICE ΤΟ CALL AT THE COMPLAINANT'S ADDRESS, ALTHOUGH THE COMPLAINANT DOUBTED IF THEY DID COME AS HIS ENTRY PHONE DID NOT RING, AND HIS DOG NEVER BARKED THAT MORNING.
AS THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY TO INFORM THE COMPLAINANT, THE HOSPITAL STAFF LEFT A TOTAL OF FOUR MESSAGFS ON ITS ANSWERPHONE, ASKING HIM TO COME URGENTLY TO THE HOSPITAL FIRST, AND LATER TELLING HIM ABOUT THE DEATH OF !!JS WIFE.
AS REGARDS THE DENIAL OF THE COMPLAINANT'S REQUEST TO VIEW HIS WIFE'S DEAD BODY, THE HOSPITAL EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LAPSE OF MORE THAN FIVE HOURS BETWEEN THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE, AND HIS ARRIVAL AT THE HOSPITAL, THE BODY HAD ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE MORTUARY.
THE COMMISSIONER'S CONCLUSION WAS THAT IT WAS A SAD AND UNFORTUNATE CASE, AND THAT EVERYBODY HAD ACTED IN GOOD FAITH.
"WHETHER A DEATH MESSAGE SHOULD BE LEFT ON THE ANSWERPHONE WOULD VERY MUCH DEPEND ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE WOULD INEVITABLY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS," MR SO SAID,
/WITH HINDSIGHT,