Review panel is 'more credible'

The health minister yesterday welcomed a public hospital move to include another international expert on a panel reviewing the quality of treatment provided by suspended cardiologist Dr Yu Cheuk-man.

It comes after Yu objected to the Prince of Wales Hospital's decision to invite only one expert to assess his performance, which he said was unfair.

Yu, the former head of cardiology at the Sha Tin hospital, has been banned from performing surgery since February after the hospital received complaints from other doctors about the quality of his work.

The Hospital Authority has formed two panels to review the treatment Yu provided to patients and the clinical performance of the entire department.

Yesterday, Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said bringing in another expert would enhance the credibility of the review.

"Now that we have sought the assistance of another international expert, I am confident that this will enhance both the credibility of the authority's independent review committee and its ability to review the expert panel's investigation," Ko said.