(b)
(c)
The public statement issued by Princess Margaret Hospital referred to two new-borns who suffered severe brain damage as a result of birth asphyxia but had not lapsed into a "vegetative state" as described. The cases are now being investigated by three independent experts.
My reply on 20 November 1996 and the statement issued by Princess Margaret Hospital were responding to requests for different information, and thus are not at variance with each other. My reply today to the Honourable Member's question on the number of babies born in public hospitals who have lapsed into a "vegetative state" because of birth asphyxia and remained in such a state since birth or have died over the past three
years is still the same, that is no such cases have been reported by public hospitals in the past three years. But if the Honourable Member is seeking information on the number of deaths of infants between birth and under one year old whose principal cause of death was birth asphyxia in all hospitals in the past three years, the answer is 26, 21 and 13 in 1993, 1994 and 1995 respectively.
Premature labour, multiple birth, prolapsed umbilical cord, severe maternal bleeding, and maternal hypertension are factors which may lead to high risk deliveries including birth asphyxia. Furthermore, congenital abnormalities is also a common cause of complications during the delivery process.
The HA advocates natural delivery as the preferred way of child birth, recognising that caesarean section carries higher potential risks. If in the best interest of the patient based on prevailing clinical indications caesarean section is recommended, the patient will be advised and her consent has to be obtained.
The clinician-in-charge is responsible for supervising the provision of service in the obstetric units in public hospitals. In fact, all medical. nursing and allied health staff in the clinical team share a common goal of delivering the best possible quality of patient care. Furthermore, as professionals, they are accountable to the respective professional bodies such as the Medical Council, the Nursing Board and the Midwives Board for their conduct.