Otto Chan
Encyclopedia
Dr Otto Chan is a consultant radiologist, married and a father of 7 children. He is known as the whistleblower
on several issues that related to patient safety, training issues in radiology. He also blew the whistle on terms of employment for flexible trainees. He is also the editor of a book, ABC of Emergency Radiology
and co-editor of Ultrasound in Emergency Care
.
He was sacked for alleged gross misconduct on the 7th June 2006 by The Barts and The London NHS Trust
who run the Royal London Hospital
.
One of the main issues that led to him blowing the whistle was the thousands of X-ray films and scans that were left lying around, lined up in a London
hospital's dirty corridor and stayed that way unchecked for years. They belonged to more than 100,000 patients. As a result of this being brought to attention the senior doctor who revealed the scandal, namely Dr Otto Chan had been sacked.
Some of the 15,000 packets of films and scans were kept in the corridors because the hospital lacked the money and means to analyse them all. It is estimated that only half of the films and scans were ever seen by a specialist. This meant that thousands of patients and their doctors will never know whether or not their images showed any signs of disease.
In 2002, the packages of films were locked away in a storeroom shortly before an official inspection visit. On other occasions, patients' x-ray films were hidden or rather locked in the car boots of consultants because they were so worried they would go missing.
on 28 November 2009 that the Barts & London trust former Head of Training and Clinical Director of Radiology Professor Peter Armstrong said that Dr Chan claiming trainees were unhappy was "pure fantasy". The QC who was representing the trust, Angus Moon said that Dr Chan's disclosure wasn't bonafide but he was stirring up trouble and it was a campaign to stir up as much trouble as possible for the trust.
The police said that he had breached the Theft Act
by promising in the posters that there would be no questions asked if the property was returned.
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
on several issues that related to patient safety, training issues in radiology. He also blew the whistle on terms of employment for flexible trainees. He is also the editor of a book, ABC of Emergency Radiology
ABC of Emergency Radiology
ABC of Emergency Radiology is a book edited by British radiologist Otto Chan. It is meant to be useful in emergencies by providing examples to refer to. The book addresses the difficulties in evaluating a radiograph during emergency situations. It also highlights comparisons between normal and...
and co-editor of Ultrasound in Emergency Care
Ultrasound in Emergency Care
Ultrasound in Emergency Care is a radiology book for emergency physicians and staff. It is meant to be a guide to the use of ultrasound and interpretation of scans in emergency situations....
.
He was sacked for alleged gross misconduct on the 7th June 2006 by The Barts and The London NHS Trust
Barts and The London NHS Trust
Barts and The London NHS Trust is an NHS Trust operating in the City of London and east London.It runs three hospitals:* The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel* St Bartholomew's Hospital in Smithfield in the City...
who run the Royal London Hospital
Royal London Hospital
The Royal London Hospital was founded in September 1740 and was originally named The London Infirmary. The name changed to The London Hospital in 1748 and then to The Royal London Hospital on its 250th anniversary in 1990. The first patients were treated at a house in Featherstone Street,...
.
One of the main issues that led to him blowing the whistle was the thousands of X-ray films and scans that were left lying around, lined up in a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
hospital's dirty corridor and stayed that way unchecked for years. They belonged to more than 100,000 patients. As a result of this being brought to attention the senior doctor who revealed the scandal, namely Dr Otto Chan had been sacked.
Some of the 15,000 packets of films and scans were kept in the corridors because the hospital lacked the money and means to analyse them all. It is estimated that only half of the films and scans were ever seen by a specialist. This meant that thousands of patients and their doctors will never know whether or not their images showed any signs of disease.
In 2002, the packages of films were locked away in a storeroom shortly before an official inspection visit. On other occasions, patients' x-ray films were hidden or rather locked in the car boots of consultants because they were so worried they would go missing.
Reaction to Dr Chan's claims
It was reported in the East London AdvertiserEast London Advertiser
The East London Advertiser is a weekly local newspaper in east London, England covering primarily the borough of Tower Hamlets. It was founded in 1866 and has been owned by Archant since 2003....
on 28 November 2009 that the Barts & London trust former Head of Training and Clinical Director of Radiology Professor Peter Armstrong said that Dr Chan claiming trainees were unhappy was "pure fantasy". The QC who was representing the trust, Angus Moon said that Dr Chan's disclosure wasn't bonafide but he was stirring up trouble and it was a campaign to stir up as much trouble as possible for the trust.
Home burgled
In 2007 Dr Chan's home was burgled and due to what he believed to be lack of assistance from the police, he attempted to recover his own property and was threatened by the police for attempting to buy stolen goods even though he believed the goods to be his own.The police said that he had breached the Theft Act
Theft Act
Theft Act is a stock short title used for legislation in the United Kingdom which relates to theft and other offences against property....
by promising in the posters that there would be no questions asked if the property was returned.
Publications
- ABC of Emergency RadiologyABC of Emergency RadiologyABC of Emergency Radiology is a book edited by British radiologist Otto Chan. It is meant to be useful in emergencies by providing examples to refer to. The book addresses the difficulties in evaluating a radiograph during emergency situations. It also highlights comparisons between normal and...
- Otto Chan - ISBN 978-0-7279-1528-3 - (Paperback - Jul 2007) - Ultrasound in Emergency CareUltrasound in Emergency CareUltrasound in Emergency Care is a radiology book for emergency physicians and staff. It is meant to be a guide to the use of ultrasound and interpretation of scans in emergency situations....
- 2004 - Adam Brooks, Jim Connolly, Otto Chan - Print ISBN 9780727917317
Links & Further reading
- NHS Behind the headlines Dr Otto Chan the whistleblower
- Daily Mail The doctor who nearly got arrested for trying to recover his stolen property
- British Chinese Online Discussion Board Dr Otto Chan
- Rising star becomes embroiled in protracted whistleblower dispute
- Dr Rant, Dr Otto Chan (with comments)
- NHS whistleblower 'sacked for revealing dumped x-ray scans'