Health minister tells industry to calm down, backs doctors’ professional decision making

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau has called on the healthcare industry to calm down after two doctors were charged with manslaughter over a medical blunder, saying doctors will always make decisions in the patients’ interest after thorough discussions. 

Lo said on Saturday that the work of doctors is very stressful and he understands that mistakes happen. The Medical Council of Hong Kong will handle those incidents, Lo added, but sidestepped the question on the doctors’ criminal liability. 

Lo also said he is concerned if this incident will affect the work efficiency and the professional development of the city’s public and private healthcare sector, after some voiced worries that the two are senior doctors from the Hospital Authority and the patient’s death is caused by their mistake. 

The health chief continued that doctors will discuss thoroughly with patients about their treatment plans, and will always make decisions in the patients’ interest. 

Lo said he believes experienced doctors can handle high-risk surgeries as well. 

On another note, Lo said the Department of Health has instructed drug wholesalers and retailers in the city not to sell over 60 tablets of medicine containing paracetamol to a customer at once. 

Lo warned that consuming too much medicine containing paracetamol could lead to liver dysfunction and patients should not take the medicine for more than seven days consecutively. 

Therefore, 60 tablets will be enough for a patient, Lo noted.