Hospital Authority Dismisses Intern Doctor for Breaching Patient Privacy and Improper Act

Hospital Authority statement on dismissal of intern doctor

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) today (June 12) issued the following statement regarding the dismissal of an intern doctor:

The HA holds doctors to the highest standards of professional conduct, behaviour, and discipline. The HA insists that all doctors serving patients in public hospitals must possess both medical competence and conduct themselves in a professional manner. In addition to having professional knowledge to treat patients, they must uphold the strictest professional conduct and place patient well-being, privacy, safety, and care as their foremost priority at all times. The HA has absolutely zero tolerance for any form of behaviour that undermines the professional conduct of doctors. The HA will not permit any doctors concerned to practise in public hospitals to safeguard patient safety.

Upon becoming aware of recent discussions on social media posts regarding a series of improper acts by an intern doctor, the HA has taken action to establish an investigation panel to follow up on the event seriously. The panel has completed its investigation and determined that the intern doctor was involved in a series of improper act. The HA has taken action today to dismiss the intern doctor immediately.

During its investigation, the panel conducted interviews with the intern doctor and relevant healthcare staff, and carried out a detailed review of various evidence, including clinical and computer system records. The panel concluded that the intern doctor was involved in several serious improper act, including:

• Breach of the professional conduct and integrity expected of doctors;

• Infringement of patient privacy and professional confidentiality; and

• Failure to faithfully follow instructions in performing medical procedures.

The HA has notified the intern doctor of the dismissal decision, and has also informed the medical school of the relevant university for appropriate follow-up. The HA will continue to investigate the event. If it is determined that any other doctors were involved in improper act, the HA will deal with the issue with the utmost seriousness and without leniency, in order to uphold doctors' professional conduct and safeguard patient safety.

The HA spokesperson reiterates that the HA will not tolerate any conduct that undermines patient safety or doctors' professional conduct, and strongly condemns such conduct.

The Hospital Authority, Photo source: reference image

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.8 million

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 17) seized about 400 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1.8 million and a duty potential of about $1.3 million, at the Customs Tsing Yi Cargo Examination Compound.

Through risk assessment, Customs officers yesterday inspected a 20-foot seaborn consolidated container, declared as aluminum sheet, arriving in Hong Kong from Vietnam. Officers seized 400 000 suspected illicit cigarettes inside one of the consignments. The criminals had modified hollowed-out aluminum sheets as a container to conceal the illicit cigarettes in an attempt to deter detection by Customs.

Customs stresses that smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Moreover, under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk), or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.8 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.8 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.8 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases