Aesthetic doctor fined, censured for wilful neglect, tampering with records

SINGAPORE: A doctor practicing aesthetic medicine was found guilty of four charges of professional misconduct between July 2013 and August this year, a disciplinary committee convened by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) found.

Dr Teh Tze Chen Kevin, who was a medical practitioner at Singapore Lipo, Body & Face Centre at Novena Medical Centre, was found guilty of wilful neglect by prescribing Augmentin to a patient, even though the patient was allergic to Amoxycillin, which the medication contained, the SMC said on Tuesday (Oct 21).

The disciplinary committee said Dr Teh failed to act in the best interests of the patient by proceeding with a Vaser LipoSelection treatment after realising the patient had consumed Augmentin.

The doctor then failed to tell the patient that he was about to administer Promethazine to treat the allergic reaction to Augmentin, the SMC said.

The committee also found that Dr Teh, 40, had tampered with the case notes to reflect that the patients allergy had been discovered in March 2009, when in fact it had surfaced much later. The SMC said this was part of Dr Teh's cover-up and plan to divert the blame to the nurses.

The SMC ordered that the doctor be censured, fined S$10,000 and ordered to pay 70 per cent of the legal and disciplinary costs. He also has to give a written undertaking to abstain in future of such conduct.

A further two charges brought against Dr Teh were dismissed.

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Aesthetic doctor fined, censured for wilful neglect, tampering with records