A Singaporean teacher is in a vegetative state after suffering cardiac arrest during a gastroscopy in South Korea. Her husband is suing the hospital for medical negligence and seeking damages. The delay in her return to Singapore is due to awaiting an independent medical assessment.
INCHEON, South Korea – Former teacher Tong Ming Yan, a Singapore an, and her South Korea n husband Jang Jong-seok were looking forward to moving back to Singapore with their two children in June, after having lived in South Korea for two years. They had booked their flight and Ms Tong had made arrangements to return to her teaching position at St Gabriel’s Secondary School. The family had already sent ahead half of their belongings.
Ms Tong, 35, lies in a vegetative state at a South Korean hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest during a gastroscopy. While she was resuscitated after nearly 20 minutes, she had already suffered irreversible brain damage, according to a medical report seen by The Straits Times. Ms Tong had signed up for a 350,000 won (S$336) comprehensive health screening at an Incheon hospital that included the gastroscopy – an examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract – and colonoscopy under sedation. “We discussed and felt that it would be good for Ming Yan to undergo the test before going back to Singapore, for peace of mind,” Mr Jang told ST. Mr Jang, 37, a civil engineer, is now suing the hospital for medical negligence and seeking damages and compensation for what happened to his wife. While Ms Tong’s parents want her back in Singapore as soon as possible to be surrounded by family and to receive the stimulus they hope will aid in her recovery, the wait for an independent medical assessment – a standard requirement for medical lawsuits in South Korea – has delayed her return.She now breathes with the help of a mechanical ventilator and blinks often, but seemingly not in response to anything. Mr Jang says her condition has not improved in the past four months. Based on documents seen by ST, Incheon’s district court has sent out requests for a medical assessment to three hospitals since Sept 20, but all three have turned down the request. The hospitals are given two weeks to respond and have the right of refusa
Medical Negligence Gastroscopy Vegetative State Singapore South Korea
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Singaporean woman in vegetative state in South Korea after gastroscopy went wrong; husband suing hospitalINCHEON, South Korea - Former teacher Tong Ming Yan, a Singaporean, and her South Korean husband Jang Jong-seok were looking forward to moving back to Singapore with their two children in June, after having lived in South Korea for two years.
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