The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) is looking to resolve differences in expert opinion as to how a schizophrenic in-patient ended in a persistent vegetative state following an April 2017 feeding incident when he allegedly choked on the food he was fed.

The family of Mr Cheng Jia Ning is seeking over $5 million for alleged negligence, a claim IMH is contesting. Mr Cheng, 59, has been in vegetative state and bedridden in a nursing home since June 2017.