A renowned doctor has discovered a suspected medical scam by engaging directly with the con-artists. He reported the racket to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, where he serves.
An advertisement was discovered by Dr. Ho Pak-leung at the Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai on Thursday, listing a phone number advertising consultants for making medical negligence claims. The poster included the name and logo of HKU’s Faculty of Medicine.
Ho, a clinical associate professor at the university’s department of microbiology, called the number and enquired himself, according to his Facebook page.
He said a Ms Choi, speaking Cantonese in a non-local accent, took the call and said she did not know anything and forwarded him to a Mr Chan with another number.
He then called Chan who told him that the consultants were mainly medical professionals. “We will not disclose the qualifications and backgrounds of our consultants,” Chan told Ho, in a recorded phone call published by Commercial Radio.
“They [the professionals] are doing this part-time, it’s not their only job, our scale is not that big,” Chan added.
Chan also said preliminary questions sent to the consultants would not be charged for.
“If professional medical advice was needed… then charges may be required, but it would not be any more expensive than using registered doctors or specialists,” the con artist said.
Unrelated to HKU
Ho then notified the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong about the suspected scam. The faculty said in a statement that it had reported the advertisement to the police.
The faculty said that it had no relationship with such advertising and reserved the right to take action against relevant organisations or people. It urged the public to be careful with such advertisements in order not to fall for scams.
