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Oct 16, 2009
3 GPs suspended, fined <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Felicia Wong </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
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-- ST FILE PHOTO
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THREE general practitioners were suspended for between three and 30 months and fined from $200 to $10,000 for inappropriate prescription of hypnotic drugs to patients, the Singapore Medical Council said on Friday. The doctors each faced multiple charges of professional misconduct. Of them, Dr Wong Cheng Yiew who practised at the 166 Clinic in Woodlands, also faced similar charges in 2008. He was suspended from practice for 30 months and fined $10,000. The other two - Dr Sim Tiong Puay of TP Sim Family Clinic and Surgery in Bishan and Dr Ng Chee Keong of Eunos 5 Clinic at Eunos Crescent - breached the guidelines for the first time, and were suspended for three months and six months respectively. Both were also fined $2,000 and $10,000. All three were censured by the medical council and ordered to pay for the costs of disciplinary proceedings. They all pleaded guilty to inappropriately prescribing Benzodiazepines, which are hypnotic drugs used to treat sleep disorders, and cough mixtures containing codeine. Strict guidelines were implemented in 2002 after it was found that users often developed addictions and abused the drugs. Drug addicts were also found to be using codeine to substitute illegal drugs.
Oct 16, 2009
3 GPs suspended, fined <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Felicia Wong </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
</td> <td width="10">
-- ST FILE PHOTO
</td></tr> </tbody></table>
THREE general practitioners were suspended for between three and 30 months and fined from $200 to $10,000 for inappropriate prescription of hypnotic drugs to patients, the Singapore Medical Council said on Friday. The doctors each faced multiple charges of professional misconduct. Of them, Dr Wong Cheng Yiew who practised at the 166 Clinic in Woodlands, also faced similar charges in 2008. He was suspended from practice for 30 months and fined $10,000. The other two - Dr Sim Tiong Puay of TP Sim Family Clinic and Surgery in Bishan and Dr Ng Chee Keong of Eunos 5 Clinic at Eunos Crescent - breached the guidelines for the first time, and were suspended for three months and six months respectively. Both were also fined $2,000 and $10,000. All three were censured by the medical council and ordered to pay for the costs of disciplinary proceedings. They all pleaded guilty to inappropriately prescribing Benzodiazepines, which are hypnotic drugs used to treat sleep disorders, and cough mixtures containing codeine. Strict guidelines were implemented in 2002 after it was found that users often developed addictions and abused the drugs. Drug addicts were also found to be using codeine to substitute illegal drugs.
