Breast surgeon Ho Keun Shin – aka Dr Peter Shin – avoids immediate jail for covertly indecently filming patients

A specialist breast surgeon who covertly indecently filmed patients has learned his fate in court as his lawyer says his crimes stemmed from concern.

A specialist breast surgeon who covertly filmed his patients during examinations has been spared an immediate jail term for his “incredibly disturbing” offending, which his lawyer says was borne out of “concern”.

Ho Keun Shin, of Beaumont, who practised as Dr Peter Shin at Flinders Medical Centre and privately at the Breast and Endocrine Centre at Toorak Gardens, had pleaded guilty to 12 counts of indecently filming 11 adult female patients during appointments.

In sentencing in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Magistrate Kym Millard said Shin’s conduct was an egregious breach of the victims’ trust and a “very, very, disrespectful use of their circumstance”.

The 47-year-old’s offending occurred over two years, between October 2019 and August 2021.

It ended when a patient became concerned about a tissue box placed on an ultrasound table that had a corner cut off and appeared to contain a camera.

Mr Millard said the offending was “incredibly disturbing” for the vulnerable victims, who were each seeking medical treatment for breast conditions and did not consent nor expect to be surreptitiously filmed.

He said the underlying theme throughout the victim impact statements, which were read to the court at a prior hearing, was the “absolute shock and horror that the victims felt when they were advised”.

Ho Keun Shin pictured at the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

He said women were “entitled to trust medical practitioners” but that trust had been eroded for Shin’s victims.

“Understandably, many of them said that they would never trust a male doctor again. That is just a shocking indictment on the level of harm that you have caused.”

The court has previously heard Shin did not have a valid excuse for his conduct.

“It’s hard to explain the exact motivation, but it was, yes, I would call it a voyeurism,” he had told police.

Mr Millard said there had been occasions where Shin, who has since been suspended from practising as a medical practitioner, had sought permission to film patients for teaching purposes, but the victims of these crimes were unaware.

Ho Keun Shin has been spared an immediate jail term for his “incredibly disturbing” offending. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Outside court, Craig Caldicott, for Mr Shin said his client’s offending was borne out of concern.

“The explanation that he can give the victims is that he was extremely concerned with what he had been observing in some of the examinations.”

He said Shin was “incredibly sorry” and relieved his case had been finalised.

“It’s taken two years and he is deeply remorseful and sorry for what has happened,” he said.

Asked about a lack of trust in male doctors, he said that was “entirely” a decision for the victims.

Mr Millard acknowledged Shin’s apology, pleas and expressions of remorse and suspended a 20-month jail term on condition of a three-year good behaviour bond.