The Hospital Authority has formed a three-member panel to investigate a serious medical incident at Prince of Wales Hospital involving a 21-year-old woman patient.

A doctor is believed to have wrongly administered an intravenous chemotherapy drug intrathecally instead of into the vein. The patient is in intensive care in critical condition. Staff involved in the incident have been suspended.

A Canadian expert will head the investigation panel. It will finish the investigation in one month's time and will forward recommendations to the authority.

As a temporary measure, hospital staff in preparing intravenous chemotherapy drugs for patients will administer it through infusion bags instead of syringes.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow said the authority will investigate all alleged medical incidents reported recently and will submit a report to his bureau. He said initial investigations indicate that some may involve human error.