Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner Suspected of Issuing Sick Leave Certificates Without Consultation as Department of Health Refers Case to Police

The Department of Health, in response to media reports that 1 registered Chinese medicine practitioner is suspected of issuing sick leave certificates without consultation, has referred the case to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong and the police for criminal investigation and follow-up. The department said Chinese medicine practitioners issuing sick leave certificates must comply with the Reference Guidelines on Issuance of Sick Leave Certificates and Attendance Certificates by Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners, issuing them based on professional judgement according to patients' circumstances; there have previously been Chinese medicine practitioners who, after investigation and inquiry by the Council, were found to have committed professional misconduct and were removed from the register for issuing misleading or false sick leave certificates.