RTHK English

Docs face disciplinary action over unauthorised X-ray

Caritas Medical Centre on Monday said it is launching an investigation into an incident in which a trainee doctor used medical equipment to conduct an X-ray of her knee without authorisation. The investigation was launched after the trainee doctor posted images of the X-ray on her own social media account, reportedly describing the act as a "perk" of being an intern doctor. In a statement, the Hospital Authority said preliminary investigations by the centre found the trainee doctor had committed the act and that the incident was "inappropriate". The centre confirmed that the X-ray was taken in a room while strict radiation-protection controls, including warning lights and notices, were in place. It said monitoring systems showed that all areas remained within safety standards and that patient services had not been affected. The authority said it would take disciplinary action against the intern as well as a resident doctor in accordance with protocols. The resident doctor, who holds a valid radiation equipment operating licence, was found to have helped carry out the X-ray on the trainee doctor, according to authorities. The authority said the issue would be "seriously" followed up as it attaches great importance to the professional ethics of medical staff. It also reiterated that medical equipment is strictly reserved for authorised clinical purposes and that all staff are prohibited from using hospital instruments for personal reasons at any time. It also said that it would "seriously" follow up on reports that the same trainee doctor was suspected to have asked a doctor at another hospital to perform an examination on a patient at Ruttonjee Hospital – when she was interning there. The authority said it had looked into the issue earlier and found that patient services were not affected. It added the trainee had been given a stern warning and would now be closely monitored for the rest of her internship. Edited by Tony Sabine