Trainee doctor accused of secretly recording video of hundreds of female colleagues in hospital restrooms
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Trainee Doctor Exposed for Secretly Recording Hundreds of Female Colleagues in Restrooms
Trainee surgeon Ryan Cho was released on bail after being accused of secretly recording 4,500 intimate videos of colleagues in hospital restrooms. The Victoria state Supreme Court ruled on August 22, 2025, that he could be released under strict conditions, including living with his parents. The case underscores the pressing need for improved privacy measures in healthcare settings worldwide. How can medical institutions better protect staff and patients from such invasions of privacy?
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A trainee surgeon in Australia, Ryan Cho, was released on bail after being accused of secretly recording hundreds of medical colleagues in hospital restrooms. The case, which has garnered significant media attention since his arrest on July 22, 2025, raises serious concerns about privacy and safety in medical environments.
6 Key Takeaways Trainee surgeon accused of secret recordings
Ryan Cho faces around 500 charges
Released on bail with parental supervision
Allegations involve 4,500 intimate videos
No evidence of image dissemination noted
Similar case resulted in prison sentence
Cho, 28, faces approximately 500 charges related to the alleged recording of 4,500 intimate videos, primarily in the staff restrooms of three Melbourne hospitals. The Victoria state Supreme Court ruled on August 22, 2025, that he could be released under strict conditions, including living with his parents, who recently relocated from Singapore.
Fast Answer: Ryan Cho, an Australian trainee surgeon, faces serious charges for secretly recording colleagues in hospital restrooms, highlighting urgent privacy issues in medical settings.
This alarming incident prompts questions about the safety protocols in hospitals. How can medical institutions better protect staff and patients from such invasions of privacy? Consider these points:
Increased surveillance and monitoring in sensitive areas.
Stricter background checks for hospital staff.
Enhanced training on privacy rights and legal implications.
This case underscores the pressing need for improved privacy measures in healthcare settings worldwide.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it is crucial for hospitals to reassess their security protocols and ensure a safe environment for both staff and patients. Will this incident lead to more stringent regulations in the healthcare sector?
Singapore doctor accused of secretly recording 460 women at Australian hospitals
Ryan Cho, 28, is likely to face around 500 charges relating to 4,500 intimate videos he secretly recorded with phones. The junior doctor could be released on bail, on the condition he lives with his parents. His parents were required to post a surety of A$50,000 (US$32,000)
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Ryan Cho, 28, is likely to face around 500 charges relating to 4,500 intimate videos he secretly recorded with phones mainly in the staff restrooms of three Melbourne hospitals since 2021, police alleged in documents cited in the Victoria state Supreme Court.
Justice James Elliott ruled the junior doctor could be released on bail, on the condition he lives with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne for his release. His parents were required to post a surety of A$50,000 (US$32,000).
The prosecutor argued that Cho had no meaningful ties to Australia after being suspended from his job, and the charges against him could be an inducement to flee. While Cho became an Australian permanent resident in April, he would face deportation if he were convicted and sentenced to 12 months or longer in prison, Elliot said.
The judge noted Cho had surrendered his Singapore passport and had no criminal connections to help him leave Australia.
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Cho ignored reporters’ questions as he left the court building wearing sunglasses over his prescription glasses and a surgical face mask.
Police allege Cho recorded intimate images of at least 460 women. The judge noted there was no allegation that Cho had disseminated those images.
Doctor accused of secretly recording 4,500 videos released on bail
Ryan Cho, 28, will likely face around 500 charges relating to 4,500 intimate videos he secretly recorded with phones mainly in the staff toilets of three Melbourne hospitals. The junior doctor was released on condition he live with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne in anticipation of their son’s release. His parents were required to post a 50,000 Australian dollar (€27,000) surety. The prosecutor argued that the charges presented Cho with an inducement to flee and he had no meaningful ties to Australia.
Ryan Cho (28) will likely face around 500 charges relating to 4,500 intimate videos he secretly recorded with phones mainly in the staff toilets of three Melbourne hospitals since 2021, police alleged in documents cited in the Victoria state supreme court.
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Justice James Elliott ruled that the junior doctor be released on condition he live with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne in anticipation of their son’s release.
His parents were required to post a 50,000 Australian dollar (€27,000) surety.
The prosecutor argued that the charges presented Cho with an inducement to flee and he had no meaningful ties to Australia after being suspended from his job.
While Cho became an Australian permanent resident in April, he would face deportation if he was convicted and sentenced to 12 months or longer in prison, the prosecutor said.
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Cho was granted bail (AAP Image via AP)
The judge noted Cho had surrendered his Singapore passport and had no criminal connections to help him leave Australia.
Police allege Cho recorded intimate images of at least 460 women. The judge noted there was no allegation Cho had disseminated those images.
Cho was arrested in July after a phone was found recording from inside a mesh bag hanging in an Austin Hospital toilet. Police allege he also recorded in restrooms in the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
His lawyer Julian McMahon rejected prosecutors’ fears that if released, Cho could interfere with witnesses. There are likely to be hundreds of witnesses alleging similar offences, Mr McMahon said.
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“There’s a sense here that if my client were to engage in the criminal offence of interfering with witnesses that it wouldn’t affect the outcome of the case,” Mr McMahon said.
Cho was initially charged with six offences but another 127 charges were added on Thursday, including intentionally recording intimate images without permission.
Mr McMahon said it was too early to tell if the allegations would go to trial. Cho has not entered pleas.
Cho came to Australia as a student in 2017 and studied medicine at Melbourne’s Monash University.
Doctor accused of secretly recording 4,500 videos in hospital bathroom released on bail
Ryan Cho, 28, is expected to face around 500 charges linked to 4,500 intimate videos he allegedly recorded with phones. Police allege these were primarily made in staff restrooms at three Melbourne hospitals since 2021. Justice James Elliott ruled the junior doctor could be released on condition he reside with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne anticipating his release. His parents were required to post a 50,000 Australian dollar surety. The judge noted there was no allegation Cho had disseminated those images.
Ryan Cho, 28, is expected to face around 500 charges linked to 4,500 intimate videos he allegedly recorded with phones. Police allege these were primarily made in staff restrooms at three Melbourne hospitals since 2021, as detailed in Victoria state Supreme Court documents.
Justice James Elliott ruled the junior doctor could be released on condition he reside with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne anticipating his release. His parents were required to post a 50,000 Australian dollar surety.
The prosecutor argued that the charges presented Cho with an inducement to flee and he had no meaningful ties to Australia after being suspended from his job. While Cho became an Australian permanent resident in April, he would face deportation if he was convicted and sentenced to 12 months or longer in prison, Hammill said.
The judge noted Cho had surrendered his Singapore passport and had no criminal connections to help him leave Australia.
Police allege Cho recorded intimate images of at least 460 women. The judge noted there was no allegation Cho had disseminated those images.
The parents of trainee surgeon Ryan Cho, arrive at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Con Chronis/AAP Image via AP) (AAP IMAGE)
Cho was arrested in July after a phone was found recording from inside a mesh bag hanging in an Austin Hospital restroom. Police allege he also recorded in restrooms in the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
His lawyer Julian McMahon rejected prosecutors’ fears that if released, Cho could interfere with witnesses. There were likely to be hundreds of witnesses alleging similar offenses, McMahon said.
“There’s a sense here that if my client were to engage in the criminal offense of interfering with witnesses that it wouldn’t affect the outcome of the case,” McMahon said.
Cho was initially charged with six offenses but another 127 charges were added Thursday, including intentionally recording intimate images without permission.
McMahon said it was too early to tell if the allegations would go to trial. Cho hasn’t entered pleas.
Cho came to Australia as a student in 2017 and studied medicine at Melbourne’s Monash University.
Doctor accused of secret toilet recordings had images of 460 victims, Australian police say
Australian police alleged a Melbourne doctor accused of covertly filming colleagues in hospital bathrooms had more than 10,000 pieces of images and videos relating to at least 460 female victims. The accused, Ryan Cho, has been denied bail after being charged with several offences and will return to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in November. Dr Cho worked as a trainee surgeon at the Austin Hospital but has since been stood down. His medical registration has also been suspended by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), preventing him from practising as a doctor in Australia. Police alleged Dr Cho was seen “loitering” around the emergency department on a number of occasions despite his shift not starting for some time or while he was not rostered on. They alleged he refused to give them passwords to the devices he allegedly used to record the videos. Police also alleged that cybercrime analysis of one of the mobile phones showed it had recorded three hours of video footage.
Photo: Supplied/ Victoria Police
Australian police alleged a Melbourne doctor accused of covertly filming colleagues in hospital bathrooms had more than 10,000 pieces of images and videos relating to at least 460 female victims.
Documents produced before court allege those files were ranked into “tiers”, and categorised into folders associated with the alleged victims’ names and workplaces.
What’s next? The accused, Ryan Cho, has been denied bail after being charged with several offences and will return to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in November.
A trainee surgeon accused of secretly snapping intimate images of unsuspecting colleagues in hospital toilets in Melbourne allegedly ranked the photos and videos, according to Australian court documents.
Ryan Cho, 27, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where he was denied bail after being slugged with several more charges including producing intimate images, using an optical surveillance device and failing to assist police.
He was also charged with stalking earlier this month.
Dr Cho is contesting the charges against him.
Court documents revealed police have accused Dr Cho of capturing about 4500 intimate videos of at least 460 alleged victims at three major hospitals in Melbourne – the Austin, the Royal Melbourne and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre – while they used toilets or showers.
“All these files depict the genital or anal regions of the victims in vulnerable positions,” police alleged in court documents.
“The majority of victims depicted in these videos appear to be female doctors, nurses, paramedics and staff members of medical facilities the accused has worked at since 2021.”
Medical registration temporarily suspended
Dr Cho worked as a trainee surgeon at the Austin Hospital but has since been stood down. His medical registration has also been suspended by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), preventing him from practising as a doctor in Australia.
The ABC understands the 27-year-old worked at the Royal Melbourne Hospital between February 2024 and February 2025.
Court documents alleged Dr Cho was seen “loitering” around the emergency department on a number of occasions despite his shift not starting for some time or while he was not rostered on.
Photo: ABC News / Natalie Whiting
The documents alleged that in early July a nurse at the Austin Hospital, who was using a staff toilet, found a mesh bag with a mobile phone that they believed to be recording and reported the incident to management.
The nurse alleged that several days later, the same bag was discovered by hospital security and police were called.
Police later arrested Dr Cho and seized two mobile phones, a laptop, a hard drive, several white mesh bags and removable hooks. They alleged he refused to give them passwords to the devices.
“The mesh bags and removable hooks seized … are of the likeness of the ones used in the commission of his [alleged] offending at the Austin Hospital,” police alleged in court documents.
Filmed content allegedly categorised into folders
Police alleged that cybercrime analysis of one of the mobile phones showed it had recorded three hours of video footage.
Analysis of the footage also allegedly showed Dr Cho setting up the phone and more than an hour of vision showing the intimate regions of three women.
Court documents further alleged that police analysis of one of the laptop hard drives showed it had 10,374 videos and images that were organised into sub folders separated by hospitals, wards and the names of dozens of alleged victims.
The documents also alleged images and videos were separated into a “ranking” – “Tier 1” and “Tier 2”.
“The accused [allegedly] named at least 460 female victims in total, categorising the intimate videos into folders associated with names and workplaces,” the documents alleged.
“investigators have received reports from staff and management that they are suffering trauma … and are fearful of using the hospital facilities,” police alleged in court documents.
“Staff are no longer feeling safe in their workplace,” the documents read.
On Friday, police opposed bail and alleged Dr Cho, who graduated from Monash University in 2022, was a flight risk because he had no ties to Victoria.
He was denied bail and will return to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in November.
– This story was first published by ABC
Where to get help:
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
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