Court of Appeals affirms revocation of Hayden Kho's license

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed a ruling of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) revoking the professional license of cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho stemming from his controversial sex video with actress Katrina Halili.

In a 17-page decision promulgated last June 29 but was released only yesterday, the Eighth Division of the appellate court dismissed Kho’s petition seeking to reverse the findings of the PRC’s Board of Medicine that found him liable for immorality, dishonorable and unethical conduct.

The CA upheld the authority of the PRC to suspend or revoke a certificate of registration and professional license of erring professionals.

“The practice of medicine is not a natural right but a privilege bestowed by the State on those who show that they possess, and continue to possess, the qualifications required by the conferment of such privilege,” said the ruling penned by Associate Justice Edwin Sorongon.

The CA rejected the argument of Kho that the PRC erred in issuing the order since the circulation of the sex video was not done in relation to his practice of medical profession.

“(A) relation between the complained act constituting immorality or dishonorable conduct to the practice of medicine need not exist. It may pertain to life in general as there can be no dichotomy to separate a physician’s existence into his professional and personal being,” it explained.

The CA stressed that the standard of morality expected of medical professionals should be high since the government recognizes the fact that physicians should protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the public, citing rules spelled out in the Basics of Philippine Medical Jurisprudence and Ethics.

Kho was a former physician of the Belo Medical Group Inc. (BMGI).

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Halili in 2009 after a sex video of her and Kho circulated on the Internet.