Woffles Wu: Cruel comments made me reclusive

Woffles Wu: Cruel comments made me reclusive

He has been fined by the courts and censured by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC).

But what surprised high-profile plastic surgeon Woffles Wu most was the adverse reaction he got from strangers over his brush with the law.

Said Dr Wu, who was fined $1,000 in 2012 for getting his employee to take the rap for his speeding offences: "I was surprised by the vitriol. It was so distressing because (the comments) painted such a picture of me where I could not even recognise myself."

Last week, the SMC suspended Dr Wu from practice for four months over the convictions.

In his first lengthy interview since the SMC decision, the 54-year-old admitted to The New Paper that he has tried to stay away from the public eye over the past two years.

Said Dr Wu: "I became more reclusive and I didn't attend as many public functions. I just wanted to keep away."

What he could not hide from, however, were barbed comments online.

Netizens alleged favouritism and that he had escaped unscathed because he had connections.

"When it first started, I read the reports and even the comments on the Internet," he recounted.

"It's natural because there was, perhaps, this conscious thing where you ultimately want to present the most positive side of yourself."

But he soon realised that the online world could be cruel.

After a while, he stopped reading the forums or comments that followed online reports.

"It was a bit depressing to read negative comments from people who don't even know me or what I stand for. All they saw was the offence," he said.

The latest decision by the SMC has thrust the plastic surgeon into the spotlight once more.

In its ruling, the SMC said Dr Wu subverted the course of justice through his act of dishonesty, something the medical profession would not condone.

His seniority and standing in the fraternity was also found to be an aggravating factor in the case, and instead of setting a good example, Dr Wu "tarnished the good name of the profession".

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WRITTEN UNDERTAKING

He was ordered to give a written undertaking to the SMC that he would not engage in such conduct again, and to pay costs and expenses for the proceedings.

Dr Wu told TNP that he is not appealing against the decision out of "respect".

But he does wonder if the suspension could have come in the form of community service, where there is a better and "more creative use" of a doctor's skills and experience.

He said: "Instead of paralysing me in this way medically, where I feel like I have been totally body-botoxed, I would have gladly dedicated my time during this period doing pro bono work in public hospitals or operating pro bono on patients who otherwise may not be able to afford the fees."

Dr Wu, who has gone on volunteer missions to Myanmar and Indonesia (Java and West Timor) to help children with cleft lips, said: "I would have gladly gone to do any of these things, like cleft lip repairs and other facial deformities, for free."

Nevertheless, for now, he is planning to channel his energies into growing the sport of squash.

Said the surgeon, who became the Singapore Squash Rackets Association president last September: "Since I am in suspended animation for four months, I am going to fully utilise this time to get our team ready for the SEA Games (in 2015). At the same time, I will also put in a bit of personal training."

As for his patients, Dr Wu said he contacted them immediately after he received news of his suspension.

"I told them that I'd arrange for other specialists to attend to them, but they have been very supportive and they said that they will wait (for me)."

What happened:

JUNE 12, 2012: Plastic Surgeon Woffles Wu is fined $1,000 for allowing an employee to take the rap for two speeding offences. The employee was let off with a warning.

Under the Road Traffic Act, Dr Wu could have been jailed for up to six months, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) later said.

JUNE 14, 2012: In a blog post, member of parliament for the Bishan-Toa payoh GRC Hri Kumar Nair expresses surprise at the $1,000 fine, writing that getting someone else to take the rap is serious as it seeks ti "undermine the course of justice. Netizens also express their unhappiness at the sentence.

JUNE 16, 2012: Mr Kumar posts a revised version of his earlier post, where he writes: "I has stated in that post that Dr Wu has paid someone to take the rap. I have been informed that this is incorrect, and no payment was made, I am sorry for the error and have corrected it in this post."

JUNE 16, 2012: Law Minister K. Shammugan dismisses speculations that Dr Wu escaped a jail sentence "because he's rich".

maureenk@sph.com.sg

This article was published on April 15 in The New Paper.

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