Medical practitioner suspended

07 Jun 2019

The Medical Board of Australia has suspended the registration of Dr Christopher Kwan Chen Lee, effective from 6 June 2019.

The Board has taken this action in the public interest to maintain confidence in the medical profession.

Dr Lee had previously been suspended for a period of six weeks by the Health Practitioners Tribunal in Tasmania. That period of suspension would have ended on 11 June 2019.

The Board will not be making any further comment in relation to Dr Lee at this time.

Background

AHPRA and the National Boards regulate health practitioners under Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (National Law) with the objective of maintaining public safety and confidence in the professions.

Under the National Law, National Boards have power to suspend or impose restrictions on a practitioner’s registration as an immediate action pending full investigation, where it is necessary to protect the public or if it is otherwise in the public interest.

A practitioner who is the subject of an immediate action decisions can apply to a responsible tribunal for a review of that decision.

Immediate action proceedings are not public, nor may the reasons for decision be published.

AHPRA and the National Boards do not have the legal power to deregister a practitioner. Only an independent tribunal can cancel a practitioner’s registration.

Changes to the practitioner’s registration status, such as the imposition of conditions or suspension, are published on the online public register at www.ahpra.gov.au/registration/registers-of-practitioners.aspx