Doctor reprimanded over repeated refusal to release records
HK01 · 2 SOURCES1 day ago5 MIN
Summary
The Medical Council of Hong Kong held a disciplinary hearing on September 28 and found general practitioner Leung Ying-kit (梁英傑) guilty of professional misconduct after he chose not to contest the charge. The complaint dated back to 2010, when a patient’s father repeatedly sought his son’s full medical records from July to September but did not receive them in full. The hearing panel said doctors have a professional duty to keep proper original medical records and provide them to patients within a reasonable time. Taking into account the nature and seriousness of the charge, as well as mitigation, the council ordered a reprimand.
Key Points
- The hearing on September 28 concerned a complaint that had been pursued for 16 years before reaching the Medical Council’s disciplinary stage.
- According to the case, the patient’s father made three oral requests between July and August 31, 2010, then a written request on September 15, 2010.
- Leung ultimately provided only part of the records requested, rather than the complete medical file sought by the family.
- In a written statement to the Preliminary Investigation Committee, Leung admitted receiving repeated requests for the records and not complying with them.
- The panel said a medical report may help relatives understand a condition, but it cannot replace copies of original medical records
Why It Matters
The ruling underlines that in Hong Kong, access to original medical records is treated as part of a doctor’s professional obligations, not an optional courtesy. For patients and families considering complaints or follow-up care, the case reinforces that partial disclosure or substitute reports may still fall below expected professional standards