Sex-case doctor's ban 'too soft'

A doctor jailed for indecently assaulting his 17-year-old nurse five times was suspended for 12 months by the Medical Council yesterday - a ruling that legislators condemned as too lenient.

The case of Dr Soong Roong-sheng, 59, who was found to have molested the nurse on the pretext of conducting medical examinations, was the council's first disciplinary hearing since its controversial acquittal last month of Dr Tung Hiu-ming, who used a mobile phone while performing an operation.

Democratic Party legislator Andrew Cheng Kar-foo said he was shocked and disappointed by the latest decision. He said the council had not learned from the controversy surrounding the mobile phone case.

'As a professional body, the council should have set an even higher standard for its members than the courts regarding professional conduct and ethics,' he said. 'In this particular case, I am really shocked that the council still has not changed its culture even after the criticism from the community.'

In an apparent attempt to increase transparency, the council handed journalists a written verdict after council chairman Dr Lee Kin-hung read out the ruling. 'The council takes a very serious view of any sexual offence committed by doctors against patients,' said Dr Lee after the four-hour hearing.

'Dr Soong's offences are very serious. He breached the trust imposed upon him as a medical doctor and seriously abused his responsibility towards his patient.'

In the written verdict, the council said Dr Soong had been rightly convicted. It said he had 'abused his professional position in indecently assaulting [the nurse]', which was tantamount to professional misconduct.