SMC to explain decisions on complaints

The Singapore Medical Council (SMC) has revised the way it handles complaints against doctors following a High Court ruling in February.

From now on, in cases where the SMC’s complaints committee issues a warning, a letter of advice, or dismisses the complaint, the committee will be “reminded to provide comprehensive reasons setting out its assessment for each of the allegations”, an SMC spokesman said.

The SMC will also disclose the names of all the complaints committee’s members in the outcome letters sent to the complainant, in order to “ensure strong credibility and transparency in the investigative processes and powers of the committee”.