Re Singapore Medical Council: Extension of Time for Complaints Committee Inquiry under Medical Registration Act
The Singapore Medical Council applied to the High Court for an extension of time for the Complaints Committee to complete its inquiry into a complaint against Dr. L under the Medical Registration Act. The court, emphasizing the legislative intent for expeditious resolution of complaints, granted an extension of time, but limited it to three weeks instead of the requested three months. The case was heard by Choo Han Teck J.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
General Division of the High Court1.2 Outcome
Application for extension of time allowed in part.
1.3 Case Type
Regulatory
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
The Singapore High Court considered an application by the SMC for an extension of time for a Complaints Committee inquiry, emphasizing the need for expeditious resolution.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Medical Council | Applicant | Statutory Board | Application for extension of time allowed in part | Partial | |
| Dr L | Respondent | Individual |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge of the High Court | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Sui Yi Siong | Harry Elias Partnership LLP |
4. Facts
- A complaint was made against Dr L on 23 November 2022.
- The Inquiry Committee was appointed on 7 December 2022 and referred the complaint to the Complaints Committee on 12 January 2023.
- The Complaints Committee was appointed on 25 January 2023.
- The SMC applied for a three-month extension of time on 24 July 2023 for the Complaints Committee to complete its inquiry.
- Dr L attended to a patient who received injuries to his back in an accident and gave him a medical certificate covering two days.
- The patient complained that Dr L told him that he cannot be given any MC directly because he was not the one paying for the services.
5. Formal Citations
- Re Singapore Medical Council, , [2023] SGHC 213
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Complaint made against Dr L | |
| Inquiry Committee appointed | |
| Complaint referred to Complaints Committee | |
| Complaints Committee appointed | |
| Complaints Committee directed investigators to obtain an expert report | |
| Complaints Committee sought clarifications from H’s employer | |
| Complaints Committee directed further investigations to obtain a written explanation from Dr L | |
| Dr L requested an extension of time | |
| SMC applied for an extension of time | |
| Judgment issued | |
| Deadline for Dr L to submit written explanation |
7. Legal Issues
- Extension of time for Complaints Committee inquiry
- Outcome: The court granted an extension of time, but limited it to three weeks instead of the requested three months.
- Category: Procedural
8. Remedies Sought
- Extension of time
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Regulatory Law
11. Industries
- Healthcare
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Medical Registration Act 1997 | Singapore |
| Medical Registration (Amendment) Act 2020 | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Medical Registration Act
- Complaints Committee
- Extension of time
- Inquiry Committee
- Medical certificate
15.2 Keywords
- Medical Registration Act
- Singapore Medical Council
- Complaints Committee
- Extension of Time
- Medical Profession
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Medical Registration Act | 95 |
| Medical Ethics | 90 |
| Civil Procedure | 85 |
| Healthcare Law | 75 |
| Administrative Law | 60 |
16. Subjects
- Medical Registration
- Extension of Time
- Complaints Committee Inquiry