Public Warning under s94A of the Health Care Complaints Act – ultrasound services provided by Ms Li Shen and Medsound, Hornsby

24 November 2020

The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission is concerned about ultrasound services provided by Ms Li Shen and Medsound Diagnostic Imaging Pty Ltd between 31 January 2017 and 20 November 2020.

The Commission has obtained information that Ms Li Shen, owner and operator of Medsound, has been performing ultrasound examinations as well as writing and issuing reports of the ultrasound findings without any recognised ultrasound or medical qualifications or registration in Australia. The vast majority of the ultrasound examinations have been bulk billed by Medicare and Ms Shen has been unlawfully using Medicare provider numbers to facilitate payment for the examinations.

The Commission is liaising closely with the Australian Department of Health (who are addressing Medicare fraud aspects) to identify patients who have been impacted and also the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency in relation to the allegations of providing radiology services without the appropriate registration.  The Commission is also working closely with the NSW Ministry of Health, and will refer the matter to NSW Police.

Medsound is located at Suite 15, 14 Edgeworth David Avenue Hornsby NSW 2077. It provides general and specialist ultrasound services for abdominal, pelvic, musculoskeletal, gynaecological, early pregnancy, kidney, breast, neck, DVT, echocardiography and musculoskeletal injections.

The Commission has already imposed an Interim Prohibition Order and is continuing its investigation.

What should consumers do to protect themselves? 

The Commission strongly urges individuals who have had an ultrasound performed at Medsound between 31 January 2017 and 20 November 2020 to contact their referring GP or other specialist medical practitioner.

If you can’t see the GP who referred you, another GP will be able to request your results and provide advice about whether there is anything else you need to do, such as having a repeat scan.

Your GP will be able to see what scan you had done and whether it needs to be repeated. Your GP may take a history of why the scan was requested, and whether you have had any other scans since that time. In some cases nothing further would be required.  

If you cannot recall if you had a scan at Medsound and you want to check, contact your regular GP or the medical practice you attend. They should be able to look at your medical record and tell you if you have had a scan at Medsound.

If your scan needs to be repeated please note that ultrasound scans are different to X-rays or CT (or CAT) scans, and do not expose you to any radiation. If you are recommended to have a repeat ultrasound scan, you will not be exposed to any radiation. 

Further Information

For further information, contact the Executive Officer of the Health Care Complaints Commission, on 9219 7444 or send an email to media@hccc.nsw.gov.au.