M
Ma Chao
Guest
Nov 3, 2010
Gynaecologist fined, censured
By Lee Jia Xin
AN OBSTETRICIAN and gynaecologist has been fined $7,000 and censured by the Singapore Medical Council for professional misconduct. Dr Wong Yoke Meng, 63, who practised at Clinique Suisse in Paragon Medical Centre, was charged with making laudatory and misleading statements in an advertisement published in The Guide to Singapore's Private Medical and Dental Specialist Care in 2007.
This breached the SMC Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG). Dr Wong pleaded guilty to the charge. The Disciplinary Committee found the statements made by Dr Wong in the advertisement to be laudatory and/or misleading in that they gave the impression that:
- Dr Wong is one of the pioneers of stem cell treatment
- His clinic is part of an internationally established medical group which practises innovative and advanced techniques and treatment, including stem cell treatment - stem cell treatment is a medically accepted and effective therapy both for the treatment and prevention of degenerative diseases of ageing such as 'arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, Parkinson's degeneration and cancer'.
The DC considered the fact that the statements relate to stem cell treatment which is largely unproven. Dr Wong, in his mitigation, did not contest the charge against him and had apologised for the advertisement. He also undertook to remove similar laudatory and/or misleading statements elsewhere, apart from the advertisement.