Veriah: open verdict

The family of a young solicitor who died in Hong Kong has won its first battle to prove that the hospital where she died was negligent.

Harinder Veriah, a solicitor with City firm Lovells, died in Ruttonjee Hospital after suffering an epileptic seizure on Millennium eve.

Her husband, journalist Martin Jacques, maintains that the hospital failed to resuscitate her after a second epileptic attack.

An inquest held in Hong Kong recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

A second inquest was held in London last week because Ms Veriah held dual citizenship.

London coroner Dr Stephen Chan recorded an open verdict and said: 'There is a question to be addressed as to the level of care in those last 20 minutes and indeed the management and level of care given...

in the brief stay in the hospital.'

Mr Jacques plans to launch a clinical negligence suit against the hospital later this year.

Leigh Day & Co partner Frances Swaine, representing him, said the verdict was the best they could have hoped for.

'The coroner was critical of the standard of care in the hospital, and he looked at the expert evidence in front of him, rather than relying on witness testimonies as the Hong Kong coroner did,' she said.

'The expert reports that we have show that when Harinder went into arrest the appropriate steps weren't taken.'

The hospital had no comment.

VIctoria MacCallum