New | Suspended cardiologist Yu Cheuk-man appeals to chief executive to review his case
Professor Yu Cheuk-man says it is unjust to suspend him from work before an investigation is complete
A veteran cardiologist who was suspended from surgical work last year has lodged a written appeal to the highest echelons of government to “uphold procedural justice” and to place him back behind the knife.
Prince of Wales Hospital cardiologist Professor Yu Cheuk-man said an investigation by the Hospital Authority on was already in its eleventh month, but had so far been unable to determine whether complaints about the quality of his work were substantiated.
It is extremely unfair to continue the ‘indefinite’ suspension on pretext of continuing an investigation which seems never-ending. Justice delayed is justice denied
“I am appealing to the Chief Executive [Leung Chun-ying] and the Executive Council to raise attention to this injustice to the public healthcare system,” Yu said today.
He added that his inability to do his work for 14 months had put many heart patients at risk as there were only currently only 48 qualified cardiologists under the authority.
“It is unjust to immediately suspend the clinical duties of an experienced cardiologist … who can serve patients and train more junior doctors,” he said.
Yu, a Chinese University medical professor, was barred from carrying out surgery last February after complaints by surgeons surfaced about the quality of his operations.
The Sha Tin hospital where Yu worked, cited 11 serious complications seen in his patients in 2012, four of whom died after the operations. Yu argued he was unjustly penalised based on misleading data.