Contractor in Hong Kong surgical light safety scare must apologise, cover expenses over incident, Hospital Authority says

The Hospital Authority in Hong Kong has demanded a public apology from a contractor, Getinge, following a safety incident. The medical technology firm is also required to cover all losses and expenses resulting from the incident. The company's performance was deemed substandard, leading to disciplinary action. Getinge will be suspended from tendering until next September.

The incident occurred in February when a surgical light in an operating theatre at United Christian Hospital crashed down, injuring an anaesthetic assistant. No patients were present in the theatre at the time. The incident prompted a citywide inspection of 471 surgical lights in public hospitals. The investigation concluded that broken screws showing signs of metal fatigue were the cause of the incident, which could have been prevented with earlier checks.

The inspection also revealed that 23 lights installed by Getinge posed potential risks. The company has been ordered to repair or replace them. The Hospital Authority has endorsed three actions against Getinge, including a public apology. The firm is also required to compensate the authority for all losses and expenses incurred from the incident. The authority will also introduce a new marking scheme to strengthen its governance over contractors' performance and ensure quality.