Doctor to the stars cleared over failure to record reason for using labour drug

An obstetrician to the stars has been cleared of professional misconduct by Hong Kong’s medical watchdog over allegations she failed to properly record why she administered a labour-inducing drug to a patient who said the procedure left her traumatised.

Dr Liang Shuk-tak, who reportedly had delivered babies for actresses Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia and Cecilia Cheung Pak-chi, and Olympic diving champion Guo Jingjing, was accused of failing to “properly document” the fetal head position, maternal pelvis shape or size, and the reason for administering Syntocinon to the patient in the medical records in 2017.

Syntocinon is a synthetic form of oxytocin, a natural hormone that stimulates uterine contractions in childbirth.

Following a full-day disciplinary hearing on Wednesday, Medical Council inquiry panel chairman Professor Fok Tai-fai announced that Liang was acquitted of the charge.

He said the panel accepted there was no concern about the adequacy of the patient’s pelvis shape or size for it to be recorded, while the defendant’s clinical management was up to standard and a good outcome was achieved for the patient and her baby.

“Both experts told us that it was not the best practice for not recording the reason for the giving of Syntocinon in the defendant’s progress notes,” he said.