A 62-year-old pastor from Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) died after a complex open-heart surgery lasting 27 hours, leading to multi-organ failure. The coroner's court ruled the death a medical misadventure, confirming no foul play.
Reverend Simon Yee Siak Choon was pronounced dead at Mount Elizabeth Hospital on October 12, 2022. The cause of death was multi-organ failure following cardiac surgery for valvular heart disease. State Coroner Adam Nakhoda found the death to be "iatrogenic in nature," meaning it was unintentionally induced by the medical treatment.
Mr. Yee had pre-existing conditions including hypertension and high blood cholesterol. He was admitted to hospital for breathlessness due to acute pulmonary oedema and subsequently referred for mitral valve repair or replacement surgery.
During the procedure, initiated on October 7, 2022, surgeons attempted a mitral valve repair and an aortic valve replacement. The mitral valve repair was unsuccessful, leading to leakage. A replacement was then performed, but complications arose, including significant bleeding requiring extensive management.
By October 9, 2022, Mr. Yee developed renal failure requiring dialysis and subsequently suffered multi-organ failure. He passed away on October 12, 2022.
Independent expert reports indicated that every major step of the operation encountered problems that required revision, significantly prolonging the procedure. While the family did not believe the surgeon was negligent, they questioned the approach and the surgery's duration.
The coroner concluded that Mr. Yee had given informed consent for the procedure and was aware of its risks. A finding of medical misadventure was returned, with condolences extended to the family.