WE REFER to the letters by Dr Ho Ting Fei ("Lessons for professional regulatory bodies"; last Thursday) and Dr Huang Shoou Chyuan ("Restoring confidence in medical disciplinary process"; Tuesday) concerning the recent court decision arising from disciplinary proceedings against Dr Lawrence Ang.
The Medical Registration Act allows both patients and doctors who are dissatisfied with the decision of the Singapore Medical Council's complaints committee in relation to a disciplinary complaint to appeal to the health minister.
This serves as an important avenue to protect the interests of patients and doctors alike, by ensuring that all disciplinary matters are dealt with in as fair and impartial a manner as possible.
The minister may either uphold the complaints committee's decision or refer the matter for a disciplinary inquiry before a disciplinary committee/tribunal.
The decision in each appeal is a carefully considered one that is made after giving full consideration to all relevant information presented, including the views of the complaints committee, and additional expert opinions, if appropriate.
Of the 68 appeals to the minister processed between 2010 and last year, seven (about 10 per cent) were referred for disciplinary inquiry before a disciplinary committee/tribunal. For the remaining 61 appeals, the decisions of the complaints committee were upheld.
The Ministry of Health respects and acknowledges the court's ruling and comments in Dr Ang's case.
We will review our processes to further streamline them.
Lim Bee Khim (Ms)
Director
Corporate Communications
Ministry of Health
The Medical Registration Act allows both patients and doctors who are dissatisfied with the decision of the Singapore Medical Council's complaints committee in relation to a disciplinary complaint to appeal to the health minister.
This serves as an important avenue to protect the interests of patients and doctors alike, by ensuring that all disciplinary matters are dealt with in as fair and impartial a manner as possible.
The minister may either uphold the complaints committee's decision or refer the matter for a disciplinary inquiry before a disciplinary committee/tribunal.
The decision in each appeal is a carefully considered one that is made after giving full consideration to all relevant information presented, including the views of the complaints committee, and additional expert opinions, if appropriate.
Of the 68 appeals to the minister processed between 2010 and last year, seven (about 10 per cent) were referred for disciplinary inquiry before a disciplinary committee/tribunal. For the remaining 61 appeals, the decisions of the complaints committee were upheld.
The Ministry of Health respects and acknowledges the court's ruling and comments in Dr Ang's case.
We will review our processes to further streamline them.
Lim Bee Khim (Ms)
Director
Corporate Communications
Ministry of Health
