A Melbourne doctor has been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, facing serious allegations of spying on colleagues in hospital bathrooms across multiple medical facilities.
Ryan Cho, a 27-year-old former junior doctor, was arrested and denied bail after police uncovered a staggering 10,000 videos and images on a hard drive, allegedly depicting intimate footage of hospital staff.
The disturbing case came to light when a hidden camera was discovered in a staff toilet at the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg, Victoria. The device, reportedly a mobile phone, had allegedly been in place for some time before being noticed by staff on 3 July.
This sparked an investigation by Victoria Police, leading to Cho’s arrest at a property in Croydon. The probe revealed that the alleged offences spanned several years, dating back to 2021, and involved at least 460 victims, primarily female doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other hospital staff.
Police allege that Cho meticulously organised the footage, with the hard drive containing over 10,000 files sorted into folders by hospital, ward, and even victim names.
The files were reportedly divided into categories such as ‘Tier 1’ and ‘Tier 2’, with around 4,500 videos capturing intimate moments in toilets and showers at prominent Melbourne hospitals, including the Austin Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Some footage was allegedly recorded in private homes, adding to the invasive nature of the accusations.
The discovery has sent shockwaves through the medical community, with hospital staff reportedly traumatised and fearful of using workplace facilities. Austin Health’s chief executive officer, Jodie Geissler, described the situation as “incredibly distressing” for employees, emphasising that their safety and wellbeing are the hospital’s top priority.
Comprehensive support services have been put in place to help staff navigate the emotional toll of the allegations.
Victoria Police seized several items during their investigation, including two mobile phones, a laptop, the incriminating hard drive, white mesh bags, and removable hooks, which may have been used to conceal recording devices. Cho allegedly refused to provide passwords for the devices, complicating the investigation.
He faces a slew of charges, including stalking, producing intimate images, using an optical surveillance device, and failing to assist police. These are in addition to earlier charges laid on 10 July following the initial discovery of the recording device.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has suspended Cho’s medical registration, barring him from practising anywhere in Australia.
Police have identified several other hospitals in Melbourne’s CBD and regional Victoria as locations of interest, and the process of contacting potentially affected staff is underway, though it is expected to be time-consuming.
Cho, who police claim is a flight risk with no strong ties to Victoria, has contested the charges. He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last Friday and is scheduled to return in November.
As shocking as this is, the perpetrator clearly needs psychological help and support to deal with such a fetish. I hope any disciplinary action takes this into account.