Medical Council's ban on note-taking at disciplinary hearings criticised
Medical Council's restriction at disciplinary inquiries unreasonable, patients' group says
The Medical Council has been urged to abandon a regulation that bans the public from taking notes during its disciplinary hearings.
A patients' group says the restriction - described by a leading barrister as tougher than rules in the courts - inhibits it from commenting on or taking follow-up action on cases.
But the council says the rule is needed to ensure a fair hearing and prevent prompting of witnesses.
Patients' Rights Association chairman Tim Pang Hung-cheong told the South China Morning Post he was forbidden from taking notes at an open hearing on October 24 in which his client had to give evidence.
He said the "unreasonable" limitation obstructed the group from doing its duty to ensure patients' rights were respected.
"I need to observe and take notes to see whether the council has treated patients fairly, what questions have been asked and the procedures of the hearing ... so that I can make references for future cases," he said.
Barrister-legislator Ronny Tong Ka-wah said there was no such ban in the courts or other statutory disciplinary bodies, such as the Bar Association.