TCM doctor suspended for issuing MCs ‘liberally’

SINGAPORE — A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physician has been suspended and fined for issuing as many as 122 medical certificates to 109 students of a private school, without adequately examining the patients’ medical condition.

Madam Cheong Thiam Mui, a registered physician and acupuncturist at Cheong’s Clinic at Bencoolen Street, had given out the certificates between Dec 2, 2013, and March 12, 2014.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board in a news release yesterday said Mdm Cheong’s issuance of medical certificates was “very liberal”. Investigations found that four of Mdm Cheong’s patients, who were among the students, did not undergo proper examination and she had misrepresented the facts in the medical certificates issued to them.

She also did not keep proper records of the four patients’ medical conditions, diagnosis, treatment and grounds for issuing medical certificates. This amounted to professional misconduct and negligence.

Mdm Cheong’s conduct had come to light after a complaint was made to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board. Her registration as a TCM physician has been suspended for three months from Aug 1, and she was also fined S$2,000 and censured.

The board also ordered Cheong to pay the costs and expenses of the investigation as well as action taken in the case.

She is also to give a written undertaking that she will not issue medical certificates without proper TCM examination of her patients, and that she will keep proper patients’ records of all her patients in accordance with the ethical code for TCM practitioners and relevant regulations.