Review of doctors' disciplinary proceedings to finish in 6 months

SINGAPORE  - The review committee appointed by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) to look into disciplinary proceedings involving doctors is expected to finish its work in about six months, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Monday.

Replying in Parliament to a question from Dr Janil Puthucheary (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), Mr Gan said the committee, made up of senior doctors and lawyers, will review existing frameworks for the proceedings and how they can be optimised and strengthened so that disciplinary matters are dealt with in a "just and expeditious" manner.

The SMC announced that it would set up this committee in October last year after the High Court overturned the council's guilty verdict against aesthetic doctor Low Chai Ling for using non-evidence-based aesthetic medicine. The court also released a 54-page judgment criticising the way Dr Low's disciplinary hearing had been carried out.

On Monday, Mr Gan said the disciplinary processes and requirements for doctors are set out in the Medical Registration Act (MRA). Disciplinary bodies like the Complaints Committee and disciplinary tribunals, which are obliged to comply with this law, carry out their proceedings and deliberations independently of the SMC council, he added.

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