A chiropractor and naturopath was entitled to call himself a doctor, a magistrate ruled yesterday. Allan Chan Wai-kin, 43, accused of misusing the title 'doctor' and implying he was qualified to practise medicine and surgery, was acquitted at Eastern Court. Magistrate John Brennan ruled the term 'doctor' should not be monopolised by conventional medical professionals. Dr Chan 'is a highly qualified man and therefore has the right to call himself a doctor. The medical practitioners do not have prescriptive right over the title', Mr Brennan said. He heard Dr Chan had obtained degrees in naturopathy and chiropractic in Canada in the early 1980s. Since November, 1992, Dr Chan has practised as a 'doctor of chiropractic' and 'doctor of naturopathy' in the Capitol Centre, Causeway Bay. Mr Brennan said the Medical Registration Ordinance was designed to safeguard the public from treatment by unqualified persons, but said Dr Chan had not breached the law. Mr Brennan awarded the chiropractor $3,000 costs. Paul Wu Kin-ng, defending, said the Secretary for Health and Welfare had informed the 38-strong Hong Kong Chiropractors' Association (HKCA) in July last year of their right to use the title 'doctor of chiropractic'. The title 'naturopathic doctor' was legally recognised in Canada, he said, despite the absence of a law and professional body to regulate the industry in Hong Kong. Mr Brennan also called for the urgent implementation of the Chiropractic Registration Ordinance, which was enacted in 1993. The law gives legal basis to the chiropractors' council established more than a year ago. Meanwhile, HKCA president Dr Edmond Lee said he wished the Medical Council had discussed the matter with the association before lodging its complaint against Dr Chan with the Health Department. 'I think there are misunderstandings concerning our jobs. It is our emphasis indeed that we are not medical doctors,' Dr Lee said. This is the third recently dismissed prosecution against an HKCA member. Two more chiropractors are to be tried on similar charges.
