Chung Kin-lai (center), Hospital Chief Executive of Prince of Wales Hospital, apologizes to the public and the family of a newborn during a press conference in Hong Kong on June 16, 2023. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Prince of Wales Hospital will establish an investigation panel to look into a serious medical incident related to the death of a premature baby and submit a report within eight weeks, the hospital announced on Friday.

The infant, who was born at the hospital on Monday after less than 28 weeks gestation, had congenital heart problems and was admitted to an intensive care unit with ventilator support and inotropes infusion shortly after birth.

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At around 3:50 am on Tuesday, the hospital's medical staff discovered the infusion tube's stopcock was not opened, which had obstructed the baby's drug infusion. After the inotropes infusion was resumed, the baby’s condition continued to deteriorate and he or she died at around 4 pm on Tuesday. The matter will be reported to the Coroner's Court for an inquest, according to the hospital.

During a press conference on Friday, representatives of the hospital's management acknowledged that there were missteps in the clinical treatment of the baby. They also bowed and apologized for the incident.

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Chung Kin-lai, hospital chief executive of Prince of Wales Hospital, said the hospital will set up a root cause analysis panel to look into the incident and submit an investigation report to the Hospital Authority within eight weeks.

This file photo shows a nurse holding a Hong Kong baby in a hospital in Hong Kong, Jan 17, 2007. (PHOTO / AP)

In addition, Chung suggested the panel should review improvements to the relevant medical equipment and the optimization of nursing procedures.

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He noted that the current procedures do not require nurses to check the operation of the infusion equipment. Since the incident, the hospital has informed medical staff to ensure that the infusion tube's stopcock is opened when used, to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

Chung emphasized that the hospital will take responsibility for the incident and provide the necessary support to the baby's family.