SINGAPORE: Private investor Li Siu Lun, 54, who had
an additional procedure performed on him during a surgery without
his consent in 2006, was finally vindicated on Wednesday after the
High Court entered a judgement against Gleneagles
Hospital.
Mr Li, a Hong Kong resident, had consulted hand
surgeon Dr Looi Kok Poh from Gleneagles Hospital for a tenolysis
operation on his right wrist.
It was meant to separate fused tendons to improve
mobility of the fingers.
Mr Li had signed a consent form for the surgery for "Tenolysis
Right Wrist" but not an "Ulnar Neurolysis and Repair" - a surgical
procedure of re-attaching severed nerves - which was performed on
him.
This only came to light after the condition of Mr Li's right hand
deteriorated and he sought the second opinion of a specialist in
London, who told him that two surgeries had been performed on his
right hand.
He subsequently requested from the hospital his medical records and
saw the addition of "ulnar neurolysis and repair" on his patient
consent form.
Realising the form had been altered, he asked to see the original
consent form but was unable to get an appointment to see Dr
Looi.
According to court documents, the hospital had already known,
through its internal inquiry in August 2007, that the consent form
was doctored, but supplied Mr Li with a copy any way.
On Wednesday, the court entered a judgement against Gleneagles
Hospital and deemed it liable to Mr Li for supplying the altered
form to him on September 12, 2007.
Mr Li sued Dr Looi and Gleneagles Hospital for negligence and
personal injury in 2009 and judgement was entered against Dr Looi
in June last year, after the doctor admitted liability.
Mr Li's damages and costs awarded to him by both the doctor and the
hospital are being assessed.
Outside the courtroom, Mr Li told the media he was relieved.
Speaking in Cantonese, he said: "Justice has at last been
served."
The hospital's CEO, Dr Kok Mun Foong, apologised for the episode in
a statement.
He said: "We regret that the actions of one of our nurses and the
patient's surgeon have caused Mr Li distress.
"On behalf of Gleneagles Hospital, we apologise to Mr Li for what
he has gone through. We are happy that the court has concluded the
case. We can now focus our energies on caring for our
patients."
- CNA /ls
