Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (
"No matter what had happened during the extraction process, I have to apologize to the boy and his parents. I offer my most sincere apology," Tang said.
He said the hospital, which is under the supervision of the Ministry of National Defense, has invited medical professionals to investigate whether there was any malfeasance during the oral surgery on Yang Chih-yao (楊智堯).
"The most important thing now is to save the boy's life at any cost," Tang said.
Tang also tried to boost the morale of the hospital's staff by encouraging them not to lose heart because of the incident.
The hospital's superintendent, Major General Chen Hung-yi (陳宏一), has also apologized to the boy's parents.
He said the vice superintendent of the hospital was in negotiations with the parents yesterday.
Dentist Yiang Giien-yu (
DPP Legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) held a press conference on Wednesday and invited Yang's parents and hospital staff involved in the surgery to talk about what happened.
Yang's mother, Huang Li-ching (
"After that he never moved again," Huang said.
"His eyes are still open. He seems to be saying to me, `Mom, I don't want to be like this,'" a tearful Huang said.
The anesthetist, Shen Jeng-tieng (沈振庭), said he had warned Yang's father, Yang Wen-chi (楊文吉), of the risk that anesthesia could cause an infection during the surgery.
Shen said Yang Wen-chi still gave his consent for the surgery, a remark the father quickly refuted.
"No doctor advised against the surgery. Shen is telling lies," Yang said.
Yang Wen-chi said one day before the scheduled surgery, Yiang told him that his son could be discharged from the hospital three days after the surgery.
"I am not an executioner. I am my son's father. How could I possibly allow my child to run such a big risk?" Yang Wen-chi asked.
"The doctors are trying to wash their hands of responsibility. They want me to take responsibility for my son's situation," he said.
According to the hospital, the boy's condition began to deteriorate after extubation -- the removal of a tube.
Yang Wen-chi accused Yiang of negligence, adding only one dentist, surnamed Liao, was present at the time.
"When my son's situation started to worsen, I waited anxiously in his ward for other doctors' help in trying to understand what was happening," Yang Wen-chi said.
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