Hong Kong Medical Council overturns decision to end inquiry into alleged blunder
Panel ended inquiry last month into Dr Sit Sou-chi, who was accused of delaying treatment that left child with cerebral palsy and quadriplegia
Hong Kong’s embattled Medical Council has overturned its earlier ruling to terminate an inquiry, delayed for 15 years, into a paediatrician accused of a blunder that left a boy permanently disabled.
The council decided on Saturday to revoke its ruling made on October 28 to permanently stay the proceedings of the disciplinary inquiry into Dr Sit Sou-chi.
Council chairwoman Grace Tang Wai-king announced the decision at the end of the 4½-hour review.
“After we made an order ... [last month] ... for stay of the disciplinary proceedings against the defendant in this case, there were voices in the community that our consideration for stay might have been incomprehensive,” she said.
The inquiry panel had decided “to revoke our previous order for stay of the disciplinary proceedings against the defendant”, she said.
Asked afterwards whether the council had previously erred, Tang insisted the earlier ruling was based on the arguments presented by both sides at the time, and she promised to restart the inquiry as soon as possible.