Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has launched an investigation into the controversy over a social media image posted by a doctor showing him performing a resuscitation procedure inside a public hospital, sparking outcry over patient privacy and professional ethics.

Jensen So, a doctor from the Kowloon West Cluster and a former contestant on ViuTV’s popular reality talent show King Maker III, posted the image on his Instagram account last Thursday. It has since been widely circulated on another social media platform, Threads.

The photograph showed what appeared to be a public hospital room, in which several healthcare workers in white coats and blue scrubs were gathered around a patient, while So was holding equipment to perform resuscitation. An accompanying caption read: “A rarely seen cardioversion – everyone has come to watch me deliver the electric shock.”

The Hospital Authority said on Sunday the Kowloon West Cluster placed utmost importance on protecting patient privacy and would review the incident.

“All staff members must strictly adhere to relevant regulations to ensure patient privacy is not violated. [The authority] emphasises that any form of disclosure of patient privacy by employees will not be tolerated,” a spokesman said without naming the doctor under scrutiny.

“The cluster will review the incident. Should any staff be found in breach of these regulations, the case will be handled according to established human resources procedures and referred to relevant regulatory bodies for follow-up if necessary.”