Psychiatrist suspended for 10-year sexual relationship with patient

A psychiatrist practising at The Psychiatric & Behavioural Medicine Clinic (Ang & Kong) at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre was taken to task by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC), for having an improper sexual relationship with his patient for over 10 years. Dr Kong Sim Guan, also known as Sim Heng Guan, was suspended for three years and fined $10,000 in a rare disciplinary case for the relationship that lasted from 1996 and 2009. Under SMC's medical code and ethical guidelines, a doctor must not have a sexual relationship with a patient, or be involved in an adulterous relationship. The council's disciplinary committee found that the patient was a psychiatric patient who was no doubt a vulnerable patient. She was clearly a troubled patient with marital issues, the committee said. 'We are cognizant of the fact that the medical issues faced by the Patient were related to her mental well-being and as her psychiatrist, (Kong) should have been more than aware that his sexual relationship with her can only be interpreted as taking advantage of her troubled state and vulnerability, let alone exacerbating and complicating her marital problems,' the committee noted. Source: ST Online