Medical Council Inquiry into Alleged Professional Misconduct by Pediatrician Dr. Sit Sou-chi
Introduction
The Medical Council of Hong Kong is currently conducting a disciplinary hearing to determine if Dr. Sit Sou-chi committed professional misconduct regarding the care of a newborn infant at Baptist Hospital in December 2009.
Main Body
The proceedings center on an incident occurring on December 22, 2009, involving Li Yuanjian, the son of mainland Chinese nationals. The infant suffered a seizure and subsequently developed cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, resulting in a lifelong requirement for comprehensive care. The core of the dispute concerns whether Dr. Sit failed to implement necessary and immediate medical investigations following the onset of the infant's symptoms. Dr. Sit testified that he was notified by a nurse at 04:30 via telephone that the infant had experienced limb stiffening and a suspected choking incident involving milk approximately one hour prior. He asserted that he did not return to the hospital because he believed the patient had stabilized after the nurse performed suctioning. Dr. Sit stated that he instructed the nurse to place the infant in an incubator, cease feeding, and maintain observation. While he acknowledged considering a brain infection as a possibility, he maintained that the patient's stability rendered this unlikely at the time. Conversely, the parents, Li Zhijian and Peng Hongying, testified that the infant's condition deteriorated rapidly starting around 03:30, characterized by limb stiffening and ocular rolling. They contested the doctor's account, stating that no milk was observed exiting the infant's mouth and that Dr. Sit did not arrive at the hospital until 08:00, by which time the patient's condition had worsened. Furthermore, the Medical Council presented an audio recording from a meeting eight days post-incident in which Dr. Sit mentioned suspected convulsions; the doctor clarified that these remarks were made after a diagnosis of meningitis had been established. Procedurally, the inquiry has faced significant delays. Originally scheduled for 2016, the process was repeatedly postponed and eventually terminated last year due to concerns regarding the fairness of a hearing conducted so long after the event. The inquiry was reinstated in November following a directive from the Secretary for Health, Lo Chung-mau, to review the operational protocols of the medical watchdog.
Conclusion
The hearing has been adjourned to June 7 for closing submissions, after which the Medical Council will determine if Dr. Sit's actions constituted professional misconduct.