The Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital called in police on Saturday to investigate the death of a patient whose neck became entangled in the connection tubing of a blood pressure machine.

In a statement, the hospital's spokesperson said a healthcare worker saw the patient, 83, sleeping normally in the geriatric ward at 1.20 am.

He said fifteen minutes later, the patient was discovered unconscious with the tubing wrapped around his neck.

He added that healthcare staff immediately removed the tubing and performed resuscitation, but the patient was certified dead at 2.47 am.

The man had been admitted with end-stage renal failure and pneumonia on Wednesday and had been in a stable condition.

The hospital has expressed its deep condolences to the patient's family.

"The hospital has promptly reviewed the ward, arranged the positions of the related medical equipment and enhanced inspection, so as to avoid the reccurrence of similar incidents."

It added that the incident has been reported to both the police and the Hospital Authority for investigation. Details were also passed to the coroner.

It's the second fatal medical incident in a public hospital this week. The Hospital Authority is also looking into the death of a 79-year-old man at Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po on Tuesday after an oxygen cylinder failed while he was being moved between wards.
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Last updated: 2023-12-02 HKT 20:18