Parents of disabled son demand answers as case put on hold permanently by Medical Council

發佈日期: 2025-10-29 19:49

TVB News

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In 2009, a mainland wife gave birth to her son at Baptist Hospital, where he was born with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia. 

The parents filed a complaint to the Medical Council, questioning if there was medical negligence.

After 15 years, the Council announced a permanent stay of the hearing, describing the case had been excessively lengthy, which would be unfair to the doctors involved. 

The father says he does not rule out a judicial challenge.

Filled with many grievances, the couple spoke to the press alongside the Society for Community Organization, or SOCO, which is helping them.

The tragedy occured in 2009 when Mrs Lai travelled to Hong Kong to deliver her baby.

However, she developed a severe fever and was subsequently diagnosed with group B Streptococcus infection. 

The newborn also had a high fever and convulsions, requiring urgent treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

He was left with brain damage, which led to cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia. 

In 2010, the parents lodged a complaint with the Medical Council, accusing the pediatricians of negligence. 

The hearing commenced in July 2016, but the doctors' side requested a postponement to allow more time to process evidence.

As the hearing reconvened this month, the doctor sought a permanent stay, arguing that the case had dragged on for 15 years, and it was unjust for him. 

The inquiry panel of the Council approved the request, describing the lengthy proceedings as "oppressive and abusive."

The father said over the years, they were never provided with an explanation for the delays.

He blamed the Council Secretariat for failing to schedule hearings properly. 

Meanwhile, SOCO's Tim Pang, who advocates for patients' rights, said the decision to put the case on hold permanently was unreasonable. 

He said one of the reasons given by the council for the delay was the need to replace an expert witness.

However, he said the initial expert Dr. So was present during the past two hearing days.

He questioned if the expert witness was changed.

Feeling a deep sense of disappointment, the father vowed to persist in his quest for justice for his son.