THE Chairman of the Medical Council of Hong Kong has noted the article written by Mr Tim Hamlett headlined, ''The ills of a false diagnosis'' (South China Morning Post, June 8) and would like me to offer a short reply on her behalf.
While it is not the role of the Medical Council of Hong Kong to express its view on press reports/comments in relation to those disciplinary cases heard before the council when it was acting in a ''quasi-judicial'' capacity, your readers should be informed that in all disciplinary inquiries, the Medical Council would consider all evidence presented to it by counsels representing the prosecution side (that is, the Secretary to the Medical Council) and the defence side respectively.
Moreover, the council would have to take into consideration all circumstances surrounding the case, before it decides whether the facts alleged against the defendant doctor have or have not been proved to the satisfaction of the council and to find him guilty or not guilty accordingly.
RUPERT M. B. CHEUNG Secretary Medical Council of Hong Kong
