Health regulator will not reopen investigation into Dr Yen-Yung Yap’s clinical care
The widow of Dr Yen-Yung Yap, who was found dead after disappearing from his house, has received some bad news in her quest for answers.
SA News
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The widow of an Adelaide doctor has been told there will be no further inquiry into her late husband’s clinical conduct because it would delay other investigations and was not the public interest.
But the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority has offered to meet Mei-Khing Loo to discuss the complaints that led to sanctions against her husband Dr Yen-Yung Yap.
Dr Yap, 43, was found dead on September 5 in Kuitpo Forest two days after disappearing from his Clovelly Park home.
At the time of his death the obstetrician and gynaecologist had been banned from undertaking vaginal births unless supervised following complaints about the births of babies in 2015 and 2019.
His colleagues had accused AHPRA of having “blood on its hands” over the death.
Ms Loo, who believes her husband had done nothing wrong, wrote to AHPRA on October 26 requesting it complete the investigation arguing it was in the public interest to do so given the “volume of evidence” given to the medical board.
AHPRA’s executive director regulatory operations Kym Ayscough responded that there was “no longer” any risk and therefore “no proper basis” to continue the investigation.
“ … I do not believe that it would be in the public interest for the investigation to continue, despite the impact which I appreciate it has upon you,” she wrote in the October 29 letter.
“This is a significant investigation with multiple notifications having been received from multiple sources since 2015.
“If we were to divert resources to such an investigation now, it would mean not progressing other investigations, therefore delaying attempts to finish other investigations and address current risks posed by other practitioners.
“It would also mean that those other practitioners currently subject to investigation who have their investigation delayed would be subject to the stress of being subject to prolonged investigation.”
She said she would happy to arrange a meeting between Ms Loo and AHPRA staff who “would be able to provide you with some more information about your husband’s cases”.
The Advertiser revealed that Dr Yap in June, had written a letter expressing his frustration and despair at the impact the restrictions had on his family and on his practice.
SA Police are preparing a report into Dr Yap’s death for the Coroner.