Dad continues to seek justice for Tin-yu

Cheng Wong

The father of Chau Tin-yu has urged police and the Department of Justice to reopen the investigation into his daughter's death from a suspected medical error, vowing to pursue private prosecution if authorities refuse to do so.

Tin-yu died on March 10 last year, after nearly four years in a vegetative state.

Mistakes were believed to have occurred during a 2022 surgery at Queen Mary Hospital, causing a 48-minute delay in blood transfusion which led to prolonged oxygen deprivation, severely damaging her brain.

At a press conference yesterday, Eddie Chau said he hoped to uncover the truth about his daughter's death in his lifetime, especially after facing a cancer recurrence last year.

"Perhaps I may soon be able to meet Tin-yu again, but I need to clarify the matter during this time so that I can see her with a clear conscience," he said. "I want to look into her eyes and say: 'Tin-yu, my daughter, I did my best to fight for you. Despite facing many difficulties, I never gave up'."

Tin-yu's family filed a civil lawsuit and reached a settlement with the Hospital Authority in 2023, but they continue to seek accountability for the doctor's alleged modification of Tin-yu's medical records and pursue a criminal case.

Chau urged Queen Mary Hospital and the HA to clarify the issues related to the alteration of medical records.

He said the hospital only informed him about the transfusion delay six months after the surgery.

Chau also criticized Queen Mary Hospital and the HA for being complicit and not publicly disclosing information. He called out the hospital's chief executive Theresa Li Tak-lai for being indifferent to the incident.

Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said the incident involved public interest and called on the Department of Justice and the police to reopen the investigation.