Ms Tan was determined to go one step further. She googled the physician who was supposed to attend to her relative, and discovered that the fellow was actually struck off the medical register in Florida, USA. And that was not all, he is currently the department head of radiation oncology at the National University Cancer Institute of Singapore (NCIS).
Prof Lu was a registered medical practitioner in four American states when he was caught in 1999 selling erectile dysfunctional drugs on the internet, in gross violation of acceptable medical procedures. He claimed the summons was sent to a wrong postal address, resulting in his non-appearance at a Florida hearing and the revocation of his licence. We're talking about a country who could successfully track down Osama bin Laden and snuff him out, but not able to trace the whereabouts of a Chinese doctor from the PRC? Somehow the other 3 states did manage to trace his geographical whereabouts and fined him US$10,000 (New York and Pennsylvania) and US$2,000 (Indiana).
By which time he had already headed for Singapore in 2001, where his compensation package as a cancer radiologist was substantial enough not to require a side income from an illegal online business. He still holds a licence to practise in his home state in New York.
Prof John Wong, head of NCIS, insists that Lu "has done nothing in the past 11 years to make us doubt his competence, professionalism and integrity." Wong was forgetting that when the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) in 2009 required all practitioners to declare any past or present instance of being investigated by the authorities, Lu had conveniently skipped a response to that particular query while applying to renew his licence in April 2010. This was way before the Woffles Wu stratagem of roping in an oldish fall guy became public knowledge. Wong claims Lu subsequently apologised to the SMC after being guided/advised/instructed to do so, and the American import was allowed to practise in Singapore inspite of the brazen attempt at deceit. As recent as March 2011, Florida Board of Medicine records his decision to withdraw his application for licensure, implying there was more than a postman problem behind his original transgression.
Chief executive of National University Hospital (NUH) Joe Sim, also threw his weight in support of Lu, saying it was "a dumb mistake", whilst declaring in the same breath, it was not something NUH condones. Both Wong and Sim are telling us that Lu has been punished, without spelling out the type of punishment meted out to the surreptitiously errant doctor. Maybe they took away his Herman Miller chair entitlement.
Heck, if Ms Tan had not been industrious in her research, the cover up by Lu, Wong and Sim would never have been brought to light. Since SMC told the press it is looking into the case, we have yet to find out if it too will join in the sorry stonewalling saga. For all we know, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who was copied in the whistle blower email, might even go to bat for the doctor. A precedent has been set.
Posts
Good to know.
ReplyDeleteThe type of talents we are attracting.
And the type of Leeders we have in place to bring us forward.
This is why people are angry with these FT. If they are really good, citizens have nothing to say. BUt we have seen so many bullshit talents in our midst that make us wondered if the ministries are awre of what they brought in and at a high price.
ReplyDeleteI'm angry because these bullshit FTs become my boss.
DeleteAnd will eventually also become my children's boss.
And I have to apologize because I am xenophobic.
While my Leeders sing praises about these FTs to the high heavens.
A person can only stomach so much.
Our local Dr. Ho was jailed 7.5 months and $60,000 for selling codeine-laced cough syrup and Joe Sim can say what Dr Lu did was "a dumb mistake". *Shake head*
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the Sin City is now a safe haven for foreign corrupt officials, tax-evaders and ex-offenders. Perhaps, Sim Ann would like to enlighten us where is the "moral leadership" on this issue.
This country has lost it's moral compass.
Deleteif these are very important and talented ppl ,they should be working in their
ReplyDeleteown country , what are they doing here
Simple, you go where the people is less smart.
DeleteThe one-eyed is king in the land of the blind.
DeleteYou go where the government is stupid.
DeleteCompared to the This is a very good example of "官字兩個口", a famous old Chinese saying translated to literally mean the word 'official' has 2 mouths.
ReplyDeleteEither you are with us or against us. If one is against us, we can make one pay the price. Just like the impression we are getting from what the Law Society & even the Law Ministry, SMC, NAC, etc, are all doing.
Some can while others cannot. Are these practices not a form of corruption which can lead to wide abuse of powers, even though no money may be involved ?
By the way do you honestly condone such double standards, LHL or LKY ?
what happens to honorable people like Joe Sim,Chief executive of National University Hospital (NUH) & Prof John Wong, head of NCIS?they took upon themselves to defend an unethical foreigner.
ReplyDeleteHe was also Independent director at Healthway until 3/2012.
ReplyDeletehttp://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/committees.asp?ticker=HMED:SP
Yes he was ID at healthway, and they have been recruiting more PRC doctors in China for their operations there. It is no coincidence that a long-held rule not to admit PRC doctors to practise western medicine here has been rescinded by SMC in recent years. MoH has been admitting batches of PRC doctors for polyclinics. So the FT loop is complete: one generation of FT become decision makers, import the next generation of FT. Same for IT, drivers, same for banking, same for medical profession. MIW will have no problem recruiting PRC candidates in 2016. When Mrs D finally can look to a PRC-born MP for mediation, then maybe Ann will show some real urgency to brush up her PRC accent.
ReplyDeletehttp://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDQ3OTQwODIw.html
DeleteWhat's wrong with that? Are your ancestors not from there? See they even remind PM his roots were from there.
Singapore - like Hong Kong - will be taken over by PRC within 50 years or less.
ReplyDeleteAll the stones will be unturned. Then some of them will be put back into original place.
ReplyDeleteSummary = No stones will be unturned.
This Florida stone will be put back into original place.
"No stones will be unturned.", unquote.
ReplyDeleteIs it rite to say all stones will be turned ?
And both sides will be found to be similar ?
"what happens to honorable people like Joe Sim,Chief executive of National University Hospital (NUH) & Prof John Wong, head of NCIS?they took upon themselves to defend an unethical foreigner"
ReplyDeleteyes..that's why it is so frigntening.What John Wong says is supposed to be God's word .It seems NUH cannot do no wrong.
This is a matter of patient safety ( ie the issue of a doctor unqualified under normal circumstances to work in Singapore.
The reputation of NUH, John Wong, Joe Sim , MOH, SMC all seemed to be tarnished.
The only immediate reaction is to AVOID NUH at all cost.