Barry Tsang Ka-hung, doctor struck off for sex with patient, may appeal

A doctor who had his licence indefinitely removed for having a sexual relationship with a patient says he has "a clear conscience" and will consider an appeal.

After the seventh hearing of the case on Monday night, the Medical Council delivered the sentence on Dr Barry Tsang Ka-hung at about 1am yesterday.

"My moods are low and my family and friends are worried. I have to find a job but I have no special skills and I'm reaching middle age," the 44-year-old said. "In some things, it's all right when you have a clear conscience," he said, without elaborating when asked if he had any regrets.

Tsang  was convicted of professional misconduct by selling insurance to and having sex with a woman patient in 2008 and 2009 respectively. He was removed from the general register for four months for the former charge and indefinitely for the latter. The council will not consider his application for restoration in the next five years.

Tsang said he would consider appealing to the Court of Appeal.

He was also reprimanded by the council for making fraudulent claims to the Department of Health for reimbursement of vaccination fees for which he was convicted by Kwun Tong Court in 2011.

The council's temporary chairman Professor Felice Lieh-Mak said in the judgment that Tsang showed no remorse and "can be a danger to his patients".

Though the sexual intercourse was consensual, she said it was "a most serious breach of the proper relationship between doctor and patient".

The council found that the patient had a relationship with Tsang during the time when he was her doctor. There were photographs of them leaning their heads against each other.

Tsang had told the council that she was no longer his patient when they had a relationship and denied there was sex involved. But it found him to be a dishonest and unreliable witness, as his evidence changed all the time.

His wife gave evidence in a "rather dramatic manner" and "she distorted her evidence heavily in order to assist the defendant", it said in the judgment.