Complaints and Disciplinary Inquiries

Complaints Against Doctors

Legal powers of the Medical Council

We have been given legal powers by the Medical Registration Ordinance. These powers cover doctors in all branches of medicine, whether in public institutes, universities or in private practice.

We can investigate any complaint or information we receive relating to professional misconduct, whether it is from a member of the public, from another doctor or from a public authority such as a health authority or board, or the police. We consider every complaint or information we receive regarding professional misconduct carefully.

We can take action if we find any of the following:

• The doctor is guilty of 'professional misconduct' (Professional misconduct can be broadly defined as "If a medical practitioner in the pursuit of his profession has done something which will be reasonably regarded as disgraceful, unethical or dishonourable by his professional colleagues of good repute and competency, then it is open to the Medical Council of Hong Kong, if that be shown, to say that he has been guilty of professional misconduct".)
• The doctor has been convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment in Hong Kong or elsewhere.
• The doctor is seriously ill and it is affecting his ability to practise.

This action may range from a warning letter to, in the most serious cases, removing the doctor's right to practise medicine. However we cannot award compensation for damages and suffering that may have been caused. The appropriate authorities to deal with matters of compensation are the civil courts.