23rd May 2023 – (Hong Kong) An 86-year-old male person in custody who had been receiving medical care for chronic kidney disease and hypertension was found unconscious in his bed at Stanley Prison’s institution hospital by a correctional officer at 5.41 am on 23rd May. The officer provided first-aid treatment and called for reinforcement and an ambulance to transport him to a public hospital for further treatment. However, his condition deteriorated, and he was pronounced dead at 6.43am the same day.
The case has been reported to the police, and a death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court. The person in custody had been serving a sentence for the crime of arson since January 2006.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by correctional institutions in providing medical care to elderly and chronically ill inmates. It also underscores the importance of ensuring that appropriate medical care and follow-up are provided to all persons in custody to prevent such incidents from occurring.