Preventing Medical Litigation in TCM Practice Webinar

Chooi Jing Yen spoke at a webinar on Preventing Medical Litigation in Traditional Chinese Medicine Practice

1. Background

On 18 December 2021, our partner, Chooi Jing Yen was invited to speak on a panel consisting of four professionals from various industries including Medicine, Law, Insurance and Chinese Medicine.

2. Objective of the Webinar

The objective of the webinar was to assist Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (“TCM”) in improving its existing practice and preventing future medical litigation or wrongdoing.

According to a study done by Singapore Medical Journal, TCM usage is high in Singapore. In a survey of 500 Singaporeans, it was found that more than half of these respondents had sought TCM treatment.

In the wake of an increase in the use of Complementary Alternative Medicine such as TCM, medical litigation against practitioners has also been on the rise.

Earlier this year, a registered TCM with the TCM Practitioners Board was suspended for causing burns to a patient during fire cupping treatment, found guilty for professional negligence and found to have acted in breach of paragraph 4.1.1(e) of the Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines for TCM Practitioners and read together with Section 19(1)(f) and (i) of the TCM Practitioners Act (Cap 333A).

Read: TCM practitioner suspended for causing burns to patient during fire cupping treatment.

In another situation, a medical professional was accused by his patient for outrage of modesty.

3. Conclusion

We hope that the attendees found the webinar to be insightful and that the speakers had addressed the most common medicolegal risks and issues faced by TCM Practitioners.