Yan Chai Hospital Family Sues HA Over 5-Year-Old Girl's Death After Stitches
HK01 · 4 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
The family of five-year-old Lai Sum-yuet has taken legal action against the Hospital Authority following her death at Yan Chai Hospital. The girl suffered a cardiac arrest lasting 18 minutes after receiving head stitches in the emergency department in May 2024. She remained in intensive care for approximately nine months before passing away in February 2025, at age five. Two hospital staff members have been charged with cruelty to children and manslaughter in connection with the incident.
Key Points
- Five-year-old Lai Sum-yuet was treated at Yan Chai Hospital's emergency department on May 25-26, 2024, where she received stitches for a head wound before her heart stopped for 18 minutes
- After remaining in the intensive care unit for over nine months, Lai died on February 2025 at the age of five
- Registered nurse Cheung Tin-wing (張天穎), 26, and patient care assistant Wan Mei-kwan (尹美君), 62, have been charged with cruelty to children and manslaughter
- The two accused staff were suspended from duties following the initial court appearance, and their criminal case has been committed to the High Court
- Estate administrators Lai Kwai-fei (黎桂飛) and Chow Suk-ching (鄒淑貞) filed the civil claim on behalf of the deceased girl on October 16, 2026, at the District Court (Case No: DCPI 3883/2026)
Why It Matters
This case highlights ongoing concerns about patient safety standards in Hong Kong's public hospitals, particularly regarding paediatric care in emergency settings. The dual-track approach—with both criminal proceedings against individual staff and civil litigation against the Hospital Authority—underscores the complexity of holding public healthcare institutions accountable for alleged negligence .
This case highlights ongoing concerns about patient safety standards in Hong Kong's public hospitals, particularly regarding paediatric care in emergency settings. The dual-track approach—with both criminal proceedings against individual staff and civil litigation against the Hospital Authority—underscores the complexity of holding public healthcare institutions accountable for alleged negligence .