Man Dies After Shock During Endoscopy: Family Questions Clinic License and Care in Coroner’s Court
A 43-year-old man suffered cardiac arrest and died after his blood oxygen levels plummeted during a 2021 endoscopy procedure at a Tsim Sha Tsui medical clinic, according to testimony delivered at the Coroner’s Court on October 22, 2026. The ongoing inquest into the death of Lai Siu-hong has drawn sharp scrutiny from the man’s family regarding anesthesia administration, clinic licensing, and the timeline of emergency resuscitation efforts.
Court Inquiry Opens Into 2021 Tsim Sha Tsui Medical Center Death
Coroner’s Court case CCDI-269/2022 began its scheduled seven-day hearing before Coroner 周至偉 (Chow Chi-wai) without a jury. The proceedings center on events at the 尚正外科手術及內窺鏡中心 (Surgical and Endoscopic Center) on June 10, 2021, where Lai, a restaurant manager experiencing gastric issues, underwent upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies. Participating medical staff and family members testified during the opening session.
Lai’s widow, 何燕惠 (Ho Yin-wai), told the court that her husband suffered from congenital mitral valve prolapse, had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis twenty years prior, and dealt with chronic nasal passage narrowing that forced him to breathe through his mouth. She recounted receiving a message from Lai around noon on the day of the procedure stating it was about to begin, followed by an urgent call from her brother-in-law over an hour later.
Nurse Describes Patient Oxygen Drop During Endoscopy
Registered nurse 陳慧賢 (Chan Wai-yin), who has 23 years of experience in endoscopy centers, testified that she administered six doses of topical oral anesthetic to Lai and monitored his vital signs.
As the doctor inserted the endoscope into Lai's throat, the patient felt discomfort and attempted to reach up and pull out the tube. Chan stated that while the procedure initially appeared smooth, Lai's blood oxygen saturation dropped abruptly to 84 percent at 1:03 p.m., triggering monitoring alarms. Staff administered oxygen via face mask and summoned an ambulance at 1:15 p.m.
Brother Hears of Shock During Resuscitation
Testimony from the deceased’s brother, 黎紹輝 (Lai Siu-fai), established that he arrived at the clinic around 12:50 p.m. to wait for the patient. At approximately 1:15 p.m., a staff member called out for Lai’s relatives, leading him to a room where a man in a white coat informed him that the patient was experiencing shock and undergoing resuscitation.
Outside the courtroom, Ho raised several critical questions regarding the facility’s operations. She questioned whether the clinic held a valid day healthcare center registration license at the time, whether the personnel possessed proper qualifications to administer propofol without an anaesthesiologist present, and why an alleged fifteen-minute gap occurred between the initial drop in blood oxygen levels at 1:03 p.m. and the start of chest compressions at 1:18 p.m.
Registration nurse 郭怡湘 (Kwok Yee-seung), who handled pre-operative preparations including IV saline lines, confirmed that Lai had noted a history of tuberculosis and nasal restriction while asserting that he was otherwise in good health with a minor heart condition. Kwok stated she entered the procedure room after receiving an emergency alert regarding cardiac arrest.
Next Steps in the Coroner Inquiry
The inquest continues as the court examines clinical governance and emergency protocols in private outpatient facilities.