Urologist Ip Wai-chun Faces GMC Hearing Over Unseen Patient Prescription
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Urologist Dr. Ip Wai-chun is facing six charges before the Medical Council for allegedly prescribing the anti-cancer drug Keytruda to a terminal lung cancer patient he had never met in 2017 . The patient later died from acute liver failure after experiencing coughing up blood, prompting the patient's family to file a complaint . Ip testified that he had conducted a consultation with the patient's sister for over 20 minutes and had reviewed liver enzyme reports before prescribing . A pharmaceutical sales representative confirmed Ip had inquired about the drug's information prior to 2017, though the drug had no approved indication in Hong Kong at the time .
Key Points
- Ip faces six charges including prescribing Keytruda without proper justification and failing to adequately assess or consult the patient before prescribing .
- The patient, a terminal lung cancer sufferer from mainland China, never attended the consultation; only his sister was present to obtain the prescription .
- Ip claimed he spent over 20 minutes explaining drug mechanisms and side effects to the sister, and required her to sign an informed consent form .
- Ip stated he noticed elevated liver enzymes (AST and ALT) and bile duct obstruction, advising the family to address liver issues and consult mainland doctors .
- Pharmaceutical sales representative Tsui Wai-kuen testified Ip had discussed Keytruda's use for small cell lung cancer and contraindications before 2017, but the drug lacked Hong Kong approval at that time .
Why It Matters
The case raises significant questions about medical ethics and prescribing practices when patients cannot attend consultations in person, particularly for unapproved drugs . It highlights tensions between patient access to innovative treatments and regulatory safeguards, with implications for how Hong Kong doctors manage cross-border patients and off-label prescriptions .
The case raises significant questions about medical ethics and prescribing practices when patients cannot attend consultations in person, particularly for unapproved drugs . It highlights tensions between patient access to innovative treatments and regulatory safeguards, with implications for how Hong Kong doctors manage cross-border patients and off-label prescriptions .