Cardiologist temporarily struck off medical register over misconduct

A cardiologist has been struck off the medical register for six months after the Medical Council found him guilty of professional misconduct for reusing a single-use catheter during a procedure.

The doctor involved, Wong Kwok-yiu, did not attend the Medical Council hearing and was only represented by his lawyer.

In 2010, Wong used three catheters on a patient during a procedure. One of the catheters broke, leaving a three-centimetre fragment inside the patient's body. The reuse of the catheter was exposed after the patient filed a complaint.

The Medical Council ruled that the professional misconduct complaint was substantiated.

Considering the doctor's clear record and low risk of re-offending, Wong was ordered to be removed from the medical register for six months, without suspended sentence.