Illegal doctor inquiry begins

THE Medical Defence Union has begun an inquiry to determine possible legal action arising from a gynaecologist who worked illegally in the territory before demanding more than $5 million from his former employer.

Solicitors attached to the union, which looks after the interests of member doctors and practices in Hong Kong, were yesterday given a dossier of information relating to the gynaecologist, Dr John George.

Sources close to the case said the dossier, which includes a written demand by Dr George for GBP500,000 (HK$5.69 million) from his former employer, Dr Oram and Partners, might be passed on to police.

Dr George, now in Britain, worked illegally as an unregistered doctor in Hong Kong for six months last year, performing deliveries, abortions and hysterectomies at the Matilda Hospital.

He said yesterday the money he sought was for the ''damage which has been done to my professional career, and the extreme danger I was precariously placed by working as an obstetrician gynaecologist without a medical registration in Hong Kong''.

He said his failure to be registered was the fault of his then employer Dr Oram and Partners, and he now wanted to help his former patients sue the leading practice.

However, the Medical Council said yesterday registration was a matter for doctors to take care of and Hong Kong practitioners who failed to do so committed an offence punishable by a $10,000 fine and six months' jail.