Hong Kong doctor admits making false claim on aerospace medicine credentials
Discovery Bay GP disciplined by medical watchdog after complaint from Civil Aviation Department
A family doctor on Tuesday admitted falsely claiming to have a certificate in aerospace medicine – a set of skills to treat specific conditions among pilots and other crew who fly frequently.
Discovery Bay-based Dr Oliver James Alan pleaded guilty to three charges of professional misconduct before the Medical Council.
The watchdog removed him from the doctors registry for one month, suspended for one year, allowing him to continue to practise.
The complaint was brought by the Civil Aviation Department, which said Alan had claimed to possess a certificate and diploma in aerospace medicine in letters sent out between 2013 and 2014.
But in fact he had not complete the diploma course, and certification in aerospace medicine does not fall under the council’s quotable list – meaning the doctors should not state it on his CV.
“Quoting the title would in effect make an unauthorised promotion,” said council president Joseph Lau Wan-yee.