Complaints and Disciplinary Inquiries

Complaints Against Doctors

What happens if the Medical Council decides not to investigate the complaint?

If we decide not to investigate a complaint, it will be because the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Preliminary Investigation Committee have both agreed that an investigation is not practical, not justified or there is insufficient evidence to do so. If this decision is made, unless receipt of your prior objection, we will present the doctor your complaint to let him know your views.

These are some of the categories of complaint we are unlikely to take forward:

• Allegations that do not constitute professional misconduct.
• Complaints where we cannot identify the doctor.
• Complaints where the complainants are unwilling to make statutory declaration or to provide further information and clarification of the matter.
• Complaints about hospitals, whether public or private, which should be dealt with by the Hospital Authority or the Department of Health.
• Cases where there is not enough evidence to prove the complaint.
• Complaints which are not related to a doctor's medical work.
• Anonymous complaints.

If your complaint will not be investigated by the Medical Council, you will be notified and given an explanation.