Doctor in fatal liposuction under fire for toilet break
By Alvina Soh | Posted: 24 October 2011 2006 hrs
SINGAPORE: A doctor, who was handling a liposuction procedure which led to a patient's death, came under fire on Monday for going for a five-minute toilet break without waiting for his patient to wake up from sedation.
44-year-old Franklin Heng, who was the CEO of YTL Pacific Star, underwent the procedure at Reves Clinic on 30 December 2009, and later suffered multiple penetrating wounds to his intestines and stomach.
He was rushed by ambulance to Tan Tock Seng Hospital but was pronounced dead on the same day.
The inquest heard that 35-year-old Dr Jim Wong completed the procedure at about 3.45pm, and continued observing Mr Heng until he had to leave for the loo at 4.05pm. The general practitioner maintained that he had assessed Mr Heng and that Mr Heng's condition was stable before he left for the toilet.
Dr Wong added that his absence only took a few minutes, and that he had never left Mr Heng alone after his return from the loo.
However, Mr Heng's family lawyer, Ms Kuah Boon Theng, said that Dr Wong "should not have left Mr Heng to go outside the clinic when he had undertaken the task of observing Mr Heng before he had awakened fully."
Upon his return from the toilet, Dr Wong said that he detected a slight increase in Mr Heng's blood pressure but attributed it to the waking process and the attached possibility of anxiety.
Dr Wong said that he was not "unduly concerned" as he was not "expecting sudden complications at that time". He added that he knew that Mr Heng did not have a history of hypertension.
Ms Kuah Boon Theng also took Dr Wong to task over his lack of compliance with guidelines in administering Propofol, a sedative used in the procedure. Dr Wong said that he used Propofol to achieve light to moderate sedation.
However, Ms Kuah cited the American Society of Anesthesiologists, whose guidelines stated that patients receiving Propofol should receive care consistent with that required for deep sedation. Ms Kuah said that Dr Wong also failed to satisfy the guidelines which included electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring and monitoring of exhaled carbon dioxide.
Dr Wong also said he was unable to recall clearly the events on that ill-fated day, as he was in a "state of shock".
A total of 17 witnesses will be giving their testimonies during the inquest, which will be held until November 4. The hearing continues.
-CNA/ac
