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Inahime
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Sep 28, 2010
2 docs suspended, fined
The two doctors were suspended and fined for inappropriately prescribing Benzodiazepines. -- ST FILE PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
TWO doctors have been suspended from practice and fined for inappropriately prescribing Benzodiazepines following complaints to the Singapore Medical Council (SMC). They are Dr Ng Wei Seng of London (MH) Clinic and Surgery at Block 104 Hougang Avenue 1, who was suspended for three months and fined $2,000, and Dr Leong Yew Kin, of Singapore Family Clinic at Block 153 Bukit Batok Street 11, who was suspended for six months and fined $5,000, said a statement from the SMC on Tuesday morning.
Both were also censured by the Disciplinary Committee of the SMC and asked to give written undertaking not to engage in similar conduct. They also had to pay the cost and expenses of the disciplinary proceedings. Dr Leong admitted to 15 charges of professional misconduct by inapprorpriately prescribing Codeine-containing medication and Benzodiazepines to his patients at a disciplinary inquiry in August.
Dr Ng pleaded to 17 charges for failing to exercise due care in the management of his patients through lax prescription of benzodiazepines and cough mixtures. Prolonged prescription of benzodiazepines and cough medication without specialist referral or proper medical records is 'appropriate and unprofessional,' said the SMC.
The Ministry of Health guidelines for prescribing Benzodiazepines have warned that they are 'potentially addictive drugs which should be prescribed under specific circumstances when the benefit of the treatment outweighs the risks of adverse effect.' Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for a variety of conditions, particularly anxiety and insomnia.
