WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1986
2
PUBLIC URGED NOT TO CONSULT ILLEGAL DOCTORS
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DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP TODAY (WEDNESDAY) URGED PEOPLE NOT TO SEEK TREATMENT FROM ILLEGAL DOCTORS AND DENTISTS.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF THE PENALTIES FOR PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY BY UNREGISTERED PERSONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1986, DR IP SAID: +BY GOING TO İLLEGAL DOCTORS AND DENTISTS, YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR HEALTH IN JEOPARDY.
+YOU ARE ENCOURAGING AN ILLEGAL PRACTICE WHICH IF YOU ARE LUCKY MAY NOT CAUSE YOU DAMAGE, BUT MAY LEAD ON TO CAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE HARM.+
DR IP CALLED ON DOCTORS TO CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE INFORMATION ON HARM DONE TO PATIENTS BY ILLEGAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.
+WE CANNOT RESTRICT THE PROSECUTION OF ILLEGAL DOCTORS BASED ONLY ON COMPLAINTS FROM PATIENTS, WE NEED THE VALUABLE INFORMATION FROM DOCTORS WHO TREAT SUCH PATIENTS, SHE SAID.
REFERRING TO THOSE PRACTITIONERS WHO HAD UNDERGONE ADEQUATE TRAINING IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL LICENTIATESHIP EXAMINATIONS, DR IP SAID THEY SHOULD STUDY HARD FOR THE EXAMINATIONS AND NOT CHOOSE THE EASY WAY OUT.
SHE HAD THIS TO SAY TO THESE PRACTITIONERS: +BEFORE YOU QUALIFY, THERE ARE JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN MEDICALLY RELATED FIELDS IN WHICH YOU CAN EARN A DECENT LIVING AND AT THE SAME TIME CONTRIBUTE YOUR EXISTING MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE TO THE SOCIETY OF HONG KONG,+ SHE SAID.
DR IP ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO HASTEN COMPLETION OF THE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING LEGISLATION UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE. FOR UNTIL THAT IS DONE THE EXEMPTION UNDER THE NEW SECTION 28 (3) (D) IS MEANINGLESS, + SHE SAID.
WHILE SUPPORTING PASSAGE OF THE RELEVANT BILLS, DR IP SAID THIS DID NOT MEAN THAT THEY WERE FLAWLESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PROVISIONS WOULD NOT APPLY TO THE PRACTICE OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE IN THAT ANY SELF-PROCLAIMED ACUPUNCTURIST, HERBALIST AND BONE SETTER WHO DIAGNOSED AND TREATED PATIENTS IN THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICAL METHOD+ WOULD BE
EXEMPT.
+CAN ANYONE DEFINE FOR ME IN DEPTH, AND BE QUALIFIED TO ACT AS AN EXPERT WITNESS IN EXPLAINING TO THE COURTS WHERE APPLICABLE, THE DEFINITION AND CONFINES OF +CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICAL METHOD+7+ SHE ASKED.
/SHE SAID