XN000022-1992-07-08 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1992

4

SHW'S SPEECH IN PATIENT'S RIGHTS DEBATE

IN ADJOURNMENT

*

DEBATE ON PATIENTS' RIGHTS IN TONIGHT

| WEDNESDAY):

MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT,

MAY I THANK PROFESSOR THE HONOURABLE FELICE LIEH MAK AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL FOR THEIR VIEWS. I AM PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS DEBATE WHICH ENHANCES PATIENTS' RIGHTS

RIGHTS AND PROFESSIONALS' OBLIGATIONS. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A DEBATE OF THIS SORT TO CONCENTRATE ONE'S MIND ON AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT. HERE I WOULD ALSO

LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM THE BAPTIST COLLEGE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TROUBLE AND THE INITIATIVE TO DO RESEARCH AND SURVEY ΤΟ PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE PATIENTS' RIGHTS. I REFER TO THIS BOOKLET WHICH IS VERY WELL DONE. IT'S AN ADMIRABLE PIECE OF WORK AND ADMIRABLE EFFORT. I CONGRATULATE THEM AND I THANK THEM.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE MANY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THIS COUNCIL WHO HAVE INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR THE RIGHTS OF PATIENTS WITH SUCH CLARITY AND VISION. ALTHOUGH I THINK, MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT, ITS EARLY HOURS YET IT WOULD BE ARROGANT AND DISCOURTEOUS OF ME TO REPEAT OR ATTEMPT TO SAY WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID AND SAID SO ELOQUENTLY. HOWEVER I WOULD LIKE TO ADD JUST A FEW POINTS WHICH I DON'T THINK HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.

4

EVERYBODY HAS AN OBLIGATION TO HIMSELF, HIS FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WHICH IS SOMETIMES FORGOTTEN IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN PROMOTING THIS MESSAGE. ALL THE RIGHTS AND MEDICAL CARE IN THE WORLD CANNOT PROTECT A PERSON FROM HIMSELF IF HE CHOOSES TO NEGLECT THE BENEFITS OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.

IN THE FANOUS WORDS OF A LEADING SCRIBE IN THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH, MK DEREK GOULD, THAT PATIENTS NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEIR BODY IS ALSO GOOD FOR THEIR RIGHTS. EACH NEEDS TO BE EXERCISED IN MODERATION OR IT WILL WASTE AWAY. AND IF A PATIENT ALLOWS HIS RIGHTS TO WASTE AWAY, HE HAS BUT HIMSELF TO BLAME.

IN BRIEF, THE BEST PROTECTOR OF A CONSUMER'S RIGHTS IS STILL THE CONSUMER HIMSELF. NATURALLY WE MUST ALL ENDEAVOUR TO HELP THE CONSUMER TO ENHANCE AN AWARENESS OF CONSUMERS' RIGHTS, THE PATIENTS' RIGHTS. IT WILL DESERVE AN CONCERTED EFFORT. HERE MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT WE IN THE GOVERNMENT WILL BEAR IN MIND MEMBERS' ADVICE, PARTICULARLY IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR FREQUENT DISCUSSIONS WITH MEMBERS OF

THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, AND IN PARTICULAR IN THE GREEN PAPER WE ARE DRAFTING.

THAT

THANK YOU, MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT.

/5