A Melbourne doctor has pleaded guilty to 13 charges related to secretly photographing and filming hundreds of people in hospital bathrooms and showers. Dr. Ryan Yi Cho, 28, admitted to the breaches of trust involving nearly 900 victims since 2020, according to court documents. The offenses occurred at multiple Melbourne hospitals, including Austin Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Cho pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to charges including producing intimate images, installing optical surveillance devices, stalking, and failing to comply with a direction to assist police. He is suspected of possessing more than 4,500 images and approximately 160 videos of his victims, who were unaware they were being filmed in states of undress.
One stalking charge involved a single victim, for whom Cho allegedly took 104 intimate videos and 3,424 photos without consent. This charge also includes allegations of accessing her property and retaining personal documents and images.
The court heard that Cho was arrested on July 10 after a concealed phone was discovered in a staff toilet at Austin Hospital. A subsequent examination of his electronic devices by police uncovered numerous allegations. During a court appearance on July 25, police stated they found 10,374 video and image files on Cho's devices, with folders allegedly containing footage of both men and women using hospital toilets.
Cho faces potential prison time for his actions. He was initially remanded in custody but was released on bail after his parents posted a $50,000 bond. He will appear in the County Court of Victoria for a pre-sentence hearing on November 23, where he may offer an explanation for his behavior.
Following his arrest, Cho was banned from all hospitals where he had worked. His medical license was suspended by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, preventing him from practicing or studying medicine. Police described Cho as a "devious" and "calculated" offender who dedicated significant time to surveilling his colleagues in bathroom facilities. He allegedly tampered with toilets to direct victims into areas where he had concealed his devices.
Cho moved to Australia in 2017 to study medicine at Monash University, graduating in 2022 with degrees in Medical Science and Medicine. He became an Australian citizen and worked as a resident surgeon at Austin Hospital. He had no prior criminal history in Australia or internationally.
Separately, dozens of women are seeking compensation from Austin Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. These hospitals are facing complaints filed with the Australian Human Rights Commission for allegedly failing to prevent sexual harassment of employees by Cho.