Circular No. 1923, 19th October 2000
I have just finished my tennis game at 10:00 pm. I have finished it one hour earlier. Why? I was frustrated by the opponent's comments on my Ace served. He used to cry - Out! Out! Out! In fact, I questioned my opponent's observations. I questioned him and called the game to an end even though I was winning with my partner. Should I regret? Should I just ignore it and continue the game? That's what bothering me during my sleep afterwards and I have to get up to write this article.
Many would say that I should finish the game without arguments since the game is for friendship, I may have the chance of losing one of my friends. But others were skeptical about my opponent and gave me full support. So it is hard to make decision at such difficult times.
There are two things bothering me lately and I wish to share with you all. They are:
First, I think it is time to remind colleagues to make clear and comprehensive medical write ups in their everyday medical practice. It is because of the recent ruling from the Medical Council that missing important negative findings in patients' notes is PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT. It is also time to remind colleagues to have a third person around when examining female patients or patients of opposite sex since the Medical Council has recently passed a verdict that doing per vaginal examination without a third person present was professional misconduct. I would advise our colleagues to have our nurse present always to witness physical examination of patients, male or female alike, to play safe. If I were in that inquiry, I would have difficult times and great reservation to such decision of the Medical Council. Any way, it would be difficult time for most of our colleagues from now on. Beware!
Secondly, members are encouraged to join the Hong Kong Healthcare Association (All Hong Kong Doctors Group) - an all Hong Kong doctors owned HMO. It would be difficult to decide for some of us. Yet if we consider the impact of commercial HMOs on our already shrinking private practice and the implication of such on our professional autonomy. And if you agree that this is the last chance and the last resort to combat those commercial profiteering-HMOs, it is not difficult to make your choice since you have the option to join such health care provider service with or without investing money into the association; some may even have the chance of getting "Bonus Shares" in the management corporation in return. The All Hong Kong Doctors Group advocates high degree of transparency and needs your support. For sure, you have nothing to lose by joining. (Before you join the Hong Kong Healthcare Association, you are reminded to check your existing contracts with the commercial HMOs and to make sure that you will not violate the terms of the contracts by joining the Hong Kong Healthcare Association.)
The victory of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (a US Doctors owned HMO) against profiteering HMOs in the United States is good example for your reference. If you have questions on such professional venture for all Hong Kong doctors, you can get information from Dr. Tse Hung Hing (Tel: 2368-0093, Fax: 2723-3172) and Dr. Wong Tai Wai, David (Tel: 2382-3366, Fax: 2383-6616). Even though I fully agree that making such a decision is difficult at this critical moment, please act fast!
Dr. Yeung Chiu Fat Henry
晚上十時，我剛結束了一場網球友誼賽，比原定時間早結束了一小時。為什麼呢？我被對手對我'Ace'的發球評語感到困擾。他不停地呼叫－出界！出界！出界！其實我質疑我對手的觀察。即使我和拍擋正在得勝，我質詢對手而將這場友誼賽腰斬。我應否後悔呢？我應否當若無其事而繼續比賽呢？這些問題正騷擾著我隨後的睡眠，而我要起床寫這篇稿。
許多人會說應該繼續完成比賽，因為球賽是為了友誼而設，我可能有機會失去了一個朋友。但其他人則支持我而對我的對手懷疑。所以在這困難的時刻，真是很難去作決定。
實在，最近有兩個困擾著我的問題，我想跟大家分擔一下。它們是:
第一，現在是時候提醒各位同僚於日常診症時要做足清楚和全面的記錄。這是因為最近醫委會判定了漏寫重要不存在的徵狀是犯上專業失德。亦是時候提醒大家於檢驗女性病人時要有第三者陪同，因為最近醫委會判決了沒有第三者陪同下做陰道檢查是專業上失德。我勸籲同業們不論病人男或女亦需有護士在場作見證。如果我可以出席那一個調查會議，我必然會極之不好受，更對這樣的判決有極大保留。無論如何，從今以後同業必不會好受。請格外小心!
第二，鼓勵大家參與香港醫療服務協會(全港醫生大聯盟) ── 一個由全港醫生自己擁有的組織。去作出決定並不容易，不過，如果我們去考究商營HMOs帶來的衝擊，對於已是正在萎縮的私人醫療市場和 HMOs對我們專業自主的潛在影響，和如果你們贊同這只是最後一個反擊這些商營謀利HMOs的機會，則你們作出選擇並非困難，因為你可以一方面選擇投資或不投資而仍然有權參與這個醫療服務，有些醫生甚至可以從管理公司中獲取「紅股」。香港醫療服務協會宣揚高透明度和需要你的支持。肯定的是參加不會帶來損失。（請您考慮參加香港醫療服務協會之前，詳閱您與商營HMO的現行合約條文，是否會因您參加了香港醫療服務協會，而抵觸與其合約的規定。）
在美國的類同醫生與牙醫聯會（一個美國醫生擁有的HMO）對商營HMOs的勝利是給大家參考的好例子。如果你對參加這個全港醫生的計劃有任何詢問，你可向謝鴻興醫生（電話：2368-0093，傳真：2723-3172）及王大衛醫生（電話：2382-3366，傳真：2383-6616）索取資料，雖然我十分贊同在這艱鉅時刻去作出決定是不容易，但請迅速行動，把握時機。
楊超發醫生