A coroner's jury has found that a 56-year-old man died from natural causes outside the Caritas Medical Centre in 2008.

The inquest heard that treatment for Yeung Tak-cheung was delayed after a receptionist in the hospital refused to call an ambulance.

"Based on the evidence heard this court cannot consider the causes of death as accidental or unknown," Coroner Josiah Lam Wai-kuen said.

The jury ruled in favor of a submission by Hospital Authority counsel Alfred Fung Tuesday. "If someone is suffering from a potentially fatal disease, the treatment cannot be considered as the cause of death," Fung said.

Lam noted in his summary to the jury that the deceased had been diagnosed with a heart condition back in 2005.

The court heard Yeung was part of a crew transferring 400 10-kilo boxes from two trucks at a Cheung Sha Wan storage unit on December 20, 2008.

A colleague who was driving the truck told the court Yeung suddenly collapsed.

He said Yeung's son, Yeung Fei-lung, told him to drive to the closest hospital which happened to be the Caritas Medical Center.

Because of the size of their truck, they were unable to enter the accident and emergency department access road.

Instead, the man said he stopped the truck at the center's inquiry office before rushing in to get help.

"Someone has fainted outside, please help," he said. He alleged that the receptionist replied that someone fainting outside was none of the hospital's business and that he should call emergency services.

In her testimony the administrator, Wan Hoi-see, said she replied she was simply an administrator and calling 999 would bring help more quickly. She also testified she did not realize the gravity of the situation until she went out to check for herself and upon seeing the Yeung's state made a report.

Coroner Lam said in his summary that Wan's conduct was immaterial to the inquest because several other onlookers had made reports to 999, including doctor Rockson Wei, who made two reports while attempting to resuscitate Yeung.

The jury recommended hospitals under the Hospital Authority set up clear signage directing people to accident and emergency departments and to review its protocols for emergency patients outside and inside hospitals.

Speaking to reporters after the Coroner's findings, Yeung Fei-lung said he was at a loss for words. He described the findings as unfair.

The wife of the deceased did not speak to reporters and wept during the final day, huddled in the corner of the public gallery.

Yeung said he would consult his lawyer and former lawmaker Albert Chan Wai-yip concerning his next steps.

In response to the tragedy, the hospital has introduced portable defibrillating devices, set up an accident and emergency hotline and provided light stretchers to move patients in emergencies.

China Daily

(HK Edition 05/07/2010 page1)