Amid growing controversies of the city's Medical Council and its handling of medical complaints, two doctor-candidates vying for a Legislative Council seat in the medical and health functional constituency are pushing for its reforms.
Their call for change follows the Council's dismissal of two medical complaints, which has placed its disciplinary procedures under intense public scrutiny.
The first case involved a patient who had remained in a coma since a gastrointestinal endoscopy in 2021. The Council faces criticism for ending disciplinary actions against the doctors involved, despite the family citing evidence of inconsistent medical records.
The second case involved a doctor who prescribed a prohibited drug to an end-stage kidney patient and concealed the prescription -- leading to a fatal treatment delay -- and received only a lenient suspended sentence.
Concentration of power erodes public confidence: Lam
Speaking on a radio program on Monday (Nov 10), David Lam Tzit-yuen attributed the core problem to the Council as having a "triple role."
"The concentration of power makes it difficult to convince the public," Lam said.
He explained that the body manages doctor registration, sets professional codes, and adjudicates misconduct -- a structure inherited from an outdated British model.
Acknowledging that overlapping responsibilities fuel transparency concerns, he agreed that reforms are "long overdue," highlighting that the UK had previously separated its adjudication function to an independent tribunal, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).
Speed as top priority: Leung
Echoing a similar view, John Leung Lai-yin emphasized that improving handling efficiency should be the immediate priority for reform.
He also suggested reviewing the Council's member composition, where 24 of the 32 seats are held by industry professionals.
While believing most doctors act fairly, Leung stated that when rulings deviate from public expectations, the Council has a duty to explain its reasoning better.
Responding to allegations that the body has let the doctors "off the hook", Leung said it is difficult to comment without a full judgment.
However, he expressed openness to exploring the possibility of separating disciplinary hearings from the Medical Council.
