2 Hong Kong doctors get suspended sentences over failure to prescribe key drug to liver patient who later died
- Lam Chi-kwan and Chan Siu-kim of United Christian Hospital will remain listed as specialists for internal medicine and nephrology respectively
- Case centres on patient with underlying condition that was worsened by steroids
Two public hospital doctors in Hong Kong have been given suspended sentences after they were found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to prescribe an important antiviral drug to a liver patient who later died.
The Medical Council on Thursday spared the duo from immediate suspension of their licences, ruling that Lam Chi-kwan and Chan Siu-kim of United Christian Hospital be struck off the doctors’ general register for five months and three months respectively if they reoffended within a set time period.
Lam’s sentence was suspended for 36 months, while Chan got 18 months.
“We accept that the [defendant] has learned his lesson. However, the best clinical management system and/or protocol requires the vigilance of those who put them into practice,” chairwoman Grace Tang Wai-king said, reading from a disciplinary judgment passed on the fourth anniversary of the patient’s funeral.
“The primary purpose of a disciplinary order is not to punish … but to protect the public from persons who are unfit to practise medicine.”
