Cathy Chan, 16, CCC Kei Chi Secondary School
These days, it seems almost anything can be advertised, from goods to services to private tutors and concerts. A few years ago, Hong Kong doctors won the approval to promote themselves in a limited way by placing notices containing their service information in journals, magazines, newspapers and periodicals. However, I strongly oppose this idea.
There are many reasons why doctors should not advertise. Doctors are the public's 'gate keepers' of medical standards. Advertising makes treatment and even the doctors themselves look more like 'products' than humane and ethical professionals whose main duty is patients' well-being. Doctors would start treating their patients as clients or customers if the health care system became commercialised.
Patients risk being misled. Ads that go beyond factually listing a doctor's qualifications, address and surgery hours could make exaggerated claims. Other forms of advertising often mislead, and there must be no chance of that happening with doctors. Even if a strict watchdog was appointed to monitor the ads, no one could be 100 per cent sure the ads were honest. As a result, patients might risk their health by choosing an unsuitable doctor.
Doctors who advertise might violate medical principles and mislead patients.
Jessica Leung, 16, Our Lady of the Rosary College
The topic of allowing doctors to advertise is not a new controversy. The stated reason for the ban is to allow doctors to concentrate on curing patients, not to compete with their business rivals. But I think doctors should advertise.