People like this Joey Tan are wasting their time and harming the system.
If you truly have been wronged and believe that a HCW has been negligent in their care for you, then write in to complain.
The beauty of patient-HCW interactions is they are almost ALWAYS one to one. Individual cases. Easily traceable to a small handful of culprits (if true).
It does not involve the HUGE bigger organization or government or what not. Individuals are responsible. Again another reason why it is so good to sue HCWs.
here's the link for information. It is for the public. I think the public should be educated on this. I am not encouraging people to make false accusations and complaints. But if you truly believe you were wronged you should take action so that the perpetrators are not allowed to continue to hurt other people and patients.
https://www.healthprofessionals.gov.sg/smc/information-for-public-patients/submitting-a-complaint
Submitting a complaint
1. You wish to lodge a complaint against a doctor.
It is important that you understand the role of the SMC in the disciplinary process:
- Is SMC the right place for you to lodge your complaint?
- Should you try to resolve the matter with the doctor and/or healthcare institution concerned first? - often they will ask you to do this. And very often the hospital, doctor or healthcare institution would prefer to give you what you want instead of having to deal with the SMC. Why? Very troublesome to deal with SMC for the Dr and the institution. Also very likely will be found guilty anyway. So it is up to you. Basically write in. Likely SMC will ask you if you wish to deal with the parties directly first. But with the SMC behind you, you probably have more power on your end of the bargain table.
- Can an order be made for the doctor to reduce a medical bill or give an explanation about what happened in a medical procedure? - I don't understand this sentence. What order? By who? Who can make the order? So the complaint is about size of medical bill? Again this gives a clue what many complaints are about. And again if you have SMC behind you, you have much more bargaining power. @sweetiepie what do you think this sentence means?
- What are other avenues available that you can consider to file a claim or complaint?
- How does the SMC handle a complaint?
- What can you expect from the complaint?
Click here [PDF, 270KB] for information on the role of the SMC in handling complaints and instructions on submitting a complaint.
2. Prepare a type-written Letter of Complaint in English (“Letter”)
The Letter must state the full name of the doctor(s) and the allegations against the doctor(s), including any necessary detail, and include copies of all documents to support your complaint. You may refer to the Sample Letter here https://www.healthprofessionals.gov...ate-as-of-29-oct-2018).docx?sfvrsn=cd3cf9c9_0
3. Statutory Declaration
Under the Medical Registration Act (MRA), you must submit a written complaint accompanied by a Statutory Declaration (SD). You can search for a Commissioner for Oath (CO) from the Singapore Academy of Law’s website here. https://www.conp.sg/co-np-directory-listing<-- this link does not work on the website. You can print out a copy of the Statutory Declaration form here.https://www.healthprofessionals.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider2/information-for-public-patients/statutory-declaration-form-with-document-marked-a.pdf
FYI
this is how the SD looks like
OATHS AND DECLARATIONS ACT (CAP. 211) S T A T U T O R Y D E C L A R A T I O N I NRIC / Passport No. Occupation Address Contact Numbers ________________________________________________________________ Email __________________________________________________________________________ do solemnly and sincerely declare that in accordance with section 39(1) of the Medical Registration Act (Cap. 174), the content of the document(s) attached and marked “A” is my complaint against the conduct of Dr of (Name & Address of Clinic/Hospital)
I understand that any person who makes in a statutory declaration a statement which is false, and which he knows or has reason to believe is false or does not believe to be true touching any point material to the object for which the statutory declaration is made or used, commits an offence under the Oaths and Declarations Act (Cap. 211) for which upon conviction a person may be liable to be imprisoned for a term that may extend to 7 years and a fine.
And I make this solemn declaration by virtue of the provisions of the Oaths and Declarations Act (Cap. 211), and subject to the penalties provided by that Act for the making of false statements in statutory declarations, conscientiously believing the statements contained in this declaration to be true in every particular. __________________________________ (R.T.P. / Signature of Declarant) Declared before me at Singapore Interpreted by this ___________day of _________________________________ ____________________________________________________
Justice of the Peace, Notary Public or other officer empowered by law to administer oaths, affirmation or affidavits
Updated on 10 April 2017
This is the document marked A referred to in the statutory declaration of __________________________________________________ affirmed/sworn before me. (Name of Complainant)
4. Submitting your complaint
Once the SD has been duly affirmed/sworn, please scan and send us the following documents in colour:
Please note that we will only be able to process your complaint when the above documents have been provided. SMC also reserves the right to reject any complaint or SD not made in compliance with the Singapore law or in accordance with its requirement.
What to submit Where to submit to: By email
- The (i) Original SD, (ii) complaint letter and (iii) supporting documents consolidated in one PDF file; and
- A completed and signed copy of the acknowledgement form (see page 5 of information sheet)
Note: Your email submission should contain only the two attachments referred to above.[email protected]
5. What happens next?
Wait for the outcome letter from the Complaints Committee (“CC”). Investigations by the CC usually take at least 9 months.For more complex complaints, investigations may take more than a year. As all proceedings before the CC are confidential, we seek your understanding that you will not receive periodic updates on the status of the investigations. You should not wait for the CC’s findings to seek further medical treatment or other legal recourse.
I think Joey Tan should be invited to submit a complaint to SMC. And she must sign the SD accordingly bearing in mind that any person who makes in a statutory declaration a statement which is false, and which he knows or has reason to believe is false or does not believe to be true touching any point material to the object for which the statutory declaration is made or used, commits an offence under the Oaths and Declarations Act (Cap. 211) for which upon conviction a person may be liable to be imprisoned for a term that may extend to 7 years and a fine.
@sweetiepie I think this is only fair. If it is true. Then action should be taken. However if it is not, then stop slandering the medical profession , doctors , HCWs and the institutions.
This was one person opinion take it with a pinch of salt. Pass.
