Press Release

Latest update on DH's investigation into suspected cases of Cushing's syndrome with history of receiving acupuncture from CMP Ma Siu Wing

29 August 2012

The Department of Health (DH) today (August 29) provided the latest update on the investigation into the suspected cases of Cushing's syndrome and other adverse effects with history of receiving acupuncture or other treatment provided by registered Chinese medicine practitioner (CMP), Ma Siu Wing.

A DH spokesman said that the DH has identified four more cases either through the hotline 2125 1133 for related public enquiries or from the patients' attending doctor. It took the total number of suspected cases related to this CMP to ten so far.

The latest four cases included three females and one male aged between 39 and 53 years. All had a past history of receiving acupuncture treatment from the CMP concerned for management of their skin conditions such as eczema before the onset of the Cushingoid features. They were subsequently diagnosed as having iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome by their doctor. Investigation revealed that there was no apparent source of high dose exogenous steroid received by them during the course of acupuncture treatment by the CMP. Among them, a 48 year-old woman, was one of the three cases reported so far that had received injections on a number of occasions (apart from acupuncture) from the CMP.

The patients and their attending doctors had been contacted by DH for their detailed medical histories, drug histories and relevant laboratory results for further investigation. Meanwhile, these four cases will be referred to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong for consideration of taking necessary disciplinary action.

The spokesman appealed to patrons of CMP Ma Siu Wing who are uncertain with their suspected adverse events or feeling unwell should contact DH via the hotline 2125 1133 or consult healthcare professionals for advice as an alternative.

"Up to 4.30 pm today, our hotline 2125 1133 has received 101 enquiries from members of the public since its set up in the evening of August 23, 2012. Sixty- seven callers claimed that they had received acupuncture treatment from the CMP concerned," the spokesman said.

"The DH will follow up the cases with individual callers and continue to monitor the development closely," he added.