The conviction of Cheung Kai-shuen shocked colleagues and former patients who described him last night as one of the best-known anaesthetists in his field.
But the Medical Council warned that Cheung could face disciplinary action even if his appeal was allowed.
A friend and colleague, obstetrician Dr Macor Wan Chun-wai, said the jail term would mean a 'big loss' to patients. The doctor, who has known Cheung for 10 years and appeared as a defence witness, said: 'It would be very difficult to find a work partner as good as him. I really hope he can win his appeal and return to the profession.'
The mother of a one-year-old boy who hired Cheung to be her anaesthetist last October, said she was shocked. 'I am surprised. To me, he is a very lovely person and a good doctor. He visited me in hospital the day after the birth.'
A surgeon, who refused to be named, said the jail term had shocked the whole profession as Cheung was among the most experienced and renowned anaesthetists in the field.
A classmate of Cheung, who graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1988, said: 'It's a shock to know he's done something like that. As a doctor, I also feel shame. His conviction will damage our professional image. It will take time for the public to regain confidence in us.'