Fake doctor jailed by Hong Kong court ‘destroyer who affected confidence in health care system’
Imposter jailed after admitting roaming wards of United Christian Hospital in white coat - and must also serve sentence for prior car theft
A pharmacy employee was jailed for eight months after he admitted masquerading as a doctor at a public hospital, which the trial magistrate said affected Hongkongers' confidence in the health care system.
Mo Man-yip, 24, must serve an additional two months because his latest offences followed a suspended sentence he was given in April last year after pleading guilty to stealing his brother-in-law's car.
He also has to pay a HK$2,000 fine by the end of next year in relation to the earlier conviction.
The sentencing came after Mo pleaded guilty in Kwun Tong Court yesterday to 14 charges, including professing to practise medicine and falsely pretending to be a public officer.
"The defendant is a destroyer who has affected the public's confidence in the health care system," acting Principal Magistrate Don So Man-lung said.
So noted Mo even gave medical advice to a patient, but that fortunately, the advice did not affect the patient's health.
The court heard that on several days from March 23 to April 15, Mo walked round United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong wearing a doctor's coat.
On March 23, he asked nurse Lau Sau-lai if she could recognise him from his previous stay in hospital after his father broke his arm, the prosecution said. Lau told him she had no recollection of his stay.
A few days later, Lau told him she had handled a child abuse case in which the victim was surnamed "Mo", and asked if he was the victim. Mo denied it.
On April 14, Mo approached a 56-year-old patient, whose wife and daughter were visiting him, and enquired about his admission details, the prosecution said.
After the family members left the ward, Mo returned to the patient's bed with a stack of X-ray films and asked about his operation.
He also used a stethoscope to examine the patient for two to three minutes.
Later, Mo called the patient's daughter and talked for about three minutes.
The offences came to light when a senior nurse officer became suspicious about Mo's identity, raised the matter with hospital management and reported the case to police.
The court heard that under caution, Mo admitted the offences to police and claimed he had failed a medical course in Australia. He admired the work of doctors very much and therefore tried to pass himself off as one.
But the prosecution said Mo was actually in Hong Kong during the period he claimed to be studying overseas.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Wong Hay-yiu said Mo was hit by his father and broke his arm at the age of 13. He then stayed at United Christian Hospital for medical treatment.
Wong said his client had committed the crime because he was very eager to be a doctor.
