Doctor fined S$5,000 for professional misconduct
Posted: 19 June 2012 1126 hrs
SINGAPORE: A medical doctor has been fined S$5,000 and censured by the Singapore Medical Council's Disciplinary Committee (DC) for professional misconduct.
Dr Lim Chong Hee, 46, was a Senior Consultant at the National Heart Centre in 2007 when a complaint was lodged against him.
He had failed to adequately record his discussion with a patient in June 2007 about a possible lobectomy and the patient's consent to the surgical procedure in his medical records.
Dr Lim pleaded guilty to the charge in May 2012.
The DC emphasised that the maintenance of proper medical records is an important aspect of medical treatment, and added that proper medical record keeping is also crucial in avoiding disputes between a doctor and his patient.
The DC noted that while this case involved an oversight in recording, a distinction must be made between cases where there was no informed consent obtained and one where consent was obtained but was not recorded.
As Dr Lim is a senior medical practitioner with more than 22 years of experience, the DC said a higher standard is expected of him by the public and the medical profession.
Dr Lim has also held important appointments, and therefore is in the position where he sets standards and is a role model for junior practitioners.
-CNA/ac
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