Saturday, August 25, 2012
Denied Basic Hospital Care!!
Gibson was recently being denied access to basic hospital
care in Hong Kong! Can we really trust the
Government’s policy that “no one should
be prevented, through lack of means, from obtaining adequate medical treatment”?
While working in Dongguan one Monday evening, Gibson had
severe diarrhea, felt great abdominal cramp and nausea. With a long history of gastroenteritis, he
knew he needed treatment at the hospital. He rushed to Hong Kong border and
asked for ambulance service. At the government hospital, he was given injections
(to relieve pain and nausea) and was asked to leave. It was one in the morning and
his request to be admitted for further treatment was denied due to lack of bed.
He was then left, for observation, in the corridor, lying on a bed under a
television which was on full blast.
After four hours or so, not feeling better, Gibson decided to leave and seek treatment at a private hospital. The attending doctor at the private hospital acknowledged
his critical condition but could not admit him due to lack of bed. The doctor prescribed some medicine and asked him to wait at home for available
bed.
After seven hours or so, Gibson felt worse, the medicine
did not help. His sister called all hospitals in New Territories & Kowloon and
found all were fully booked except one. Dragging his weak and highly dehydrated
body, he sought immediate admission. Upon examination, he was diagnosed “Gastroenteritis
Presumed Infection” but was denied admission due to lack of isolation bed. At
this time, Gibson was extremely exhausted and weak. Gibson and his sister went home feeling so
helpless!
At about 6pm, Gibson and his sister rushed to a clinic just before it closed, to
consult a private doctor who cured him of H. plylori infection years
ago. The doctor realized Gibson’s grave
condition but gave the standard answer after the nurse called the nearby
hospital - lack of bed. Seeing Gibson was on the verge of collapsing, he exercised his special privilege to
secure an admission.
Finally after 18 hours and 4 attempts, Gibson was given
the basic hospital care he badly needed. Laboratory tests showed norovirus
infection.
Hospital Authority’s website states the Government ensures “all members of the community have access to
comprehensive, affordable, highly professional and people-centred preventative,
curative and rehabilitation healthcare services if they need them.” Is this just an empty promise?
ps: I flew to Bangkok on that Monday morning and was feeling totally helpless and frustrated! I'm extremely grateful that Gibson's sister is around to help!
# posted by Mae @ 3:14 PM 
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