Two surgeons suspended, fined S$10,000 each for misconduct
SINGAPORE — One surgeon used a non-standard device on three patients, while another instigated a nurse to alter a patient’s consent form to reflect an additional surgical procedure the latter had not agreed to.
For such acts of professional misconduct, among others, Dr Pang Ah San and Dr Looi Kok Poh have been separately suspended, fined and censured by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC).
In Dr Pang’s case, the 57-year-old general surgeon at Mount Alvernia Hospital had inserted a loop percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube into each of his three patients in separate incidents between 2007 and 2009.
A loop PEG tube — an external feeding device inserted into the stomach and used by patients who are unable to swallow — is a form of treatment not generally accepted by the medical profession, except under approved clinical trials, said the SMC, which published the grounds of decision by its disciplinary committee yesterday.
In arriving at its decision, the committee also considered Dr Pang’s “complete lack of remorse”.
This is not the first time Dr Pang has faced disciplinary action. In 2012, he was found guilty of misconduct by an SMC disciplinary committee for using the same feeding tube on a patient. He appealed against that decision, which was later upheld by the High Court.
In the latest case, the committee said Dr Pang had a commercial interest in administering the treatments, noting that he had applied to patent the tube before using it on the first patient. He had also continued administering the non-standard tube despite knowing he was being reviewed for those treatments.
In light of these, Dr Pang was suspended for six months, fined S$10,000, censured and ordered to pay the full costs of the proceedings on an indemnity basis. He is also required to give, among other things, a written undertaking to the SMC to abstain from providing such treatments outside approved clinical trials.
In response to TODAY’s queries, Mount Alvernia Hospital said it “will follow the SMC’s decision for suspension and remove Dr Pang’s accreditation for the same period”.
In Dr Looi’s case, the 50-year-old hand surgeon, who practised at the Pacific Hand, Wrist and Microsurgical Centre at Gleneagles Medical Centre, had pleaded guilty to three charges of misconduct.
Dr Looi had instigated Gleneagles staff nurse Chew Soo San to add a surgical procedure for the right hand and wrist — known as ulnar neurolysis and repair — to patient Li Siu Lun’s consent form, despite failing to obtain his agreement for the procedure, which was carried out in April 2006.
He had also falsified medical records documenting his consultations with Mr Li to suggest the patient had consented to the procedure. In addition, he failed to provide appropriate and timely management of Mr Li’s condition before and during the surgery.
“Dr Looi had flagrantly violated the standards of probity and moral integrity ... and his actions were nothing short of dishonest,” said an SMC disciplinary committee.
The council ordered that Dr Looi be fined S$10,000, suspended for a year and censured. The surgeon is also to bear the costs of the proceedings.
Dr Vincent Chia, chief executive of Gleneagles Hospital, said yesterday: “Gleneagles Hospital takes safety and care for our patients very seriously. Dr Looi’s accreditation was removed across all four Parkway hospitals in September 2011 and he no longer practises at our hospitals.”
