Caritas Medical Centre announces sentinel event
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) announced a sentinel event today (June 27):
A 48-year-old female patient with good past health was admitted to the hospital's surgical ward on June 17 for abdominal pain. The patient underwent an abdominal computed tomography (CT) with contrast on June 18 which indicated early appendicitis, mild colitis and a small paratubal cyst on the right side.
On the same night, the patient was arranged for an emergent minimally invasive laparoscopic appendectomy operated by a higher surgical trainee. During the operation, oozing from the surgical site was noted, and the small paratubal cyst was torn during the procedure. The on-call Associate Consultant was called in. The Associate Consultant arrived and consulted the Obstetrics and Gynaecology team at Princess Margaret Hospital, where it was confirmed that a cystectomy was not required as the bleeding had stopped. The patient remained in stable condition after the operation and continued to receive close observation and treatment. The excised tissue was sent to the pathology department for examination.
On the afternoon of June 23, the patient developed a low-grade fever with increasing abdominal pain and afterwards underwent an abdominal CT scan with contrast again. The report revealed the appendix remained intact and the pathology report, which was available in the late evening of June 25, showed that the excised tissue was a fallopian tube instead of the appendix.
The hospital is very concerned about the incident and met with the patient and her family on the following morning (June 26) to explain the details of the incident and to offer their sincerest apologies. Subsequently, the patient underwent an operation to have the inflamed appendix removed. The operation was uneventful. The hospital will continue to closely monitor her post-operative recovery.
The preliminary investigation suggests the doctor involved mistook the fallopian tube for the appendix due to tissue adhesion near the surgical site.
The CMC once again extended sincere apologies to the patient, and has requested the Department of Surgery to review the arrangements and handling of laparoscopic surgeries, including staffing deployment, task assignment, supervision and coaching. Training for frontline healthcare staff will also be strengthened to ensure proper management of every procedure-related detail to safeguard patient safety.
The incident has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. A root cause analysis panel will be formed to investigate the incident thoroughly. The investigation and recommended improvement measures will be completed within eight weeks.
The Root Cause Analysis Panel members are as follows:
Chairperson
Dr Sara Ho
Service Director (Quality and Safety), Hong Kong East Cluster
Members
Dr Raymond Cheung
Chief Manager (Patient Safety and Risk Management), Hospital Authority
Dr Lai Tak-wing
Clinical Stream Coordinator (Surgery), Kowloon West Cluster
Dr Sunny Cheung
Chief of Service (Surgery), North District Hospital
Mr Bill Wang
Vice Chair, Hong Kong Kidney Foundation
Member & Past Chair, Patient Liaison Advisory Group of International Society of Nephrology
Speech by SCST at ceremony to welcome Luminara's inaugural arrival in Hong Kong
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the ceremony to welcome Luminara’s inaugural arrival in Hong Kong today (January 13):
Sebastian (Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Mr Sebastian Seward), Captain (Executive Director of the Hong Kong Pilots Association Limited, Captain Chin Kam Lam), Anthony (Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mr Anthony Lau), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
I haven’t done this for a long time. I used to be in the Tourism Commission and I did a lot of inaugural ship visits. But this time, it feels very familiar although I am on board a new ship, seven months old, right? Because I see all the friends coming back. I make new friends who are extremely friendly and they feel so at home in Hong Kong. So, that's the ship because I have the office opposite of the harbour and this morning, I saw this ship, Luminara, and it was so amazing. It was so contemporary, you know that it is a nice ship just from looking on the outside of it. As Seb just said, sort of in place in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong is so in place with the ship. I thought this would be the beginning of a long and very happy partnership. Just now hearing what Seb has said, I think that really confirmed my gut reaction and intuition. So, it is with tremendous pleasure that I join you today at Ocean Terminal to welcome the inaugural arrival of Luminara to Hong Kong.
First and foremost, I would like to extend our warmest welcome to the Captain, your crew, and all distinguished guests aboard. To the Ritz-Carlton, thank you for choosing Hong Kong as a key destination of your newest and most exquisite vessel. I am particularly delighted to learn that Luminara is scheduled to make six turnaround calls in our city in 2026 and of course, I am sure we can entice you to do more next year.
The arrival of Luminara marks a significant milestone in Hong Kong's cruise tourism development. The debut of this ultra-luxury vessel in our harbour is a strong vote of confidence in Hong Kong's appeal as a world-class cruise hub. It also perfectly aligns with our strategy to attract high-value visitors and discerning travellers who seek not only a destination, but a premium and curated experience.
We have been working tirelessly to integrate our strengths in culture, sports, mega events and ecology with tourism to elevate every visitor's experience. For those with an eye for art, look no further than the Hong Kong Museum of Art right beside this vessel - a cultural landmark in itself, housing both classic and contemporary treasures. A stone's throw away, the West Kowloon Cultural District, also where the Ritz-Carlton is located, is home to the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the M+ museum. For the true art lovers, we offer insightful curator-led tours, private collection visits and exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences.
If you seek something more exhilarating, experience the thrill of our racecourses. Today, you may not be able to do that because we have races on Wednesdays and Sundays, but next time, plan your sailing in advance, our racecourses with themed parties and live music performances. Or join us, as I said before, join us at the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park, which hosts everything from signature events like the adrenaline-pumping Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. To concerts by global icons - know that BLACKPINK, for instance, will be here next weekend and you may just like to come visit us again.
For those in pursuit of serenity, our city's islands, bays and hidden gems offer tranquil escapes. Hong Kong is beautifully accessible by water - sailing by yacht or vessels along our stunning coastline is always an option. This is just a glimpse of what Hong Kong offers, and I am sure there is something here for everyone.
Ladies and gentlemen, we gather at a time of dynamic transformation of Hong Kong's tourism landscape. In 2025, we welcomed 49.9 million visitors worldwide, make it 50 million - a 12 per cent year-on-year increase. While we are grateful for this affection, we will not rest here. In the coming year, we will continue to enrich our offerings, host more exciting events, and collaborate with industry partners to curate diverse, immersive experiences. I am confident that each of you - especially our guests of Luminara - will find Hong Kong truly enchanting and unforgettable: a place that lingers in your heart and beckons you to come back.
I wish Luminara fair winds and following seas, and to everyone here, a prosperous and successful year ahead. I look forward to seeing this magnificent vessel grace our skyline many more times in the future, in this year and in the years to come.
Thank you very much.
Speech by SCST at ceremony to welcome Luminara's inaugural arrival in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
