Medical intern suspended after complaint over patient data in social media post

Hong Kong’s public hospital operator has suspended a medical intern and launched an investigation following a complaint that patient information had been exposed on social media, just days after another doctor was dismissed in a separate but similar privacy controversy that triggered citywide concern.The Hospital Authority said on Saturday that the case involved an intern at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung, who had since been temporarily taken off clinical duties.“As a provider of public healthcare services, the Hospital Authority requires all staff to strictly adhere to professional codes, uphold integrity, and safeguard patient rights and privacy,” a spokesman said.“We do not tolerate any form of disclosure of patient information.”The authority said the hospital had received a public complaint on Friday and “immediately reviewed the incident and initiated an investigation”.The intern, from the Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, would be placed on leave starting on Sunday, the spokesman added.The authority said it had also contacted the intern’s university and would handle the case in accordance with established procedures.