COVID-19 patient died after transport from Batam to Singapore; doctor accused of multiple lapses

COVID-19 patient died after transport from Batam to Singapore; doctor accused of multiple lapses

REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS IMPOSED

On June 29, 2021, SMC first learned about Dr. Kong’s alleged failures in providing attention to the person from the Ministry of Health.

According to the ministry’s assessment, Dr. Kong violated a number of SMC Ethical Code and Guidelines.

Due to many issues with Dr. Kong’s behavior as the only registered physician in charge of evacuating the patient, the Complaints Committee next referred the case to an interval orders committee.

The time orders commission doesn’t decide if Dr. Kong acted in the way that is claimed. The Complaints Committee has not yet decided whether a punitive tribunal should refer the complaint against Dr. Kong for official investigation.

The time orders commission subjected Dr. Kong’s enrollment to problems or restrictions for 18 months starting on July 28 of this year, or until the end of disciplinary proceedings against him, in its grounds of choice.

For any medical removal or medical transport homework, he may not sell or agree to work as a medical professional and / or provide medical providers. These include emergency services, like as health transportation vehicles or emergency ambulances.

When a patient is in respiratory arrest and one of the closest medical professionals is available, this does not stop Dr. Kong from performing quick life-saving procedures like cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

He is also required to notify SMC of all the locations where he practices or plans to practice, as well as any organization or individual hiring him for skilled work that his registration is subject to the requirements.

A Event

Dr. Kong claims that on June 7, 2021, when the patient was transported by ferry from Batam to Singapore, he & nbsp only brought medical supplies like a stethoscope, face mask, and two oxygen cylinders.

He even put on all of his private defenses.

Despite being aware that the person needed to be transported in a lightweight mobile isolation product and that he had to keep an eye on their oxygen level, it” slipped his mind” to bring along simple monitoring devices like pulmonary oximeters or blood pressure monitors. & nbsp,

Dr. Kong was informed of this arrangement by a representative of the same private ambulance operator and only & nbsp, who was referred to in the decision’s grounds as” Mr F1.”

The time orders committee noted that Dr. Kong believed Mr. F1 needed to provide him with the necessary tools and make sure the equipment was in good working order because he was not a qualified medical specialist.

Mr. F1 informed Dr. Kong that the person had cancer and heart conditions while they were traveling to Batam Ferry Terminal.

The patient had to first be stabilized at the Batam doctor because he had lightheadedness, which caused him to arrive later to the ferry terminal.

Dr. Kong claimed that he did not honestly track or record the patient’s status, such as level of consciousness, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation level, when taking care of them.

This persisted while traveling by water from Batam to Singapore. Dr. Kong claimed that while it was his responsibility to check on or check the patient’s vital signs, he was unable to do so due to a lack of necessary tools.

On the ferry, Dr. Kong noticed that the patient had a” look of despair ,” pointed to his own chest,” shook his head as if he was giving up ,” and made an effort to speak” to him.”

Despite these indications of grief, Dr. Kong chose not to inquire about the patient’s condition. Additionally, after they arrived at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, he did not record the victim’s vital signs.

Dr. Kong did not identify himself as the attending physician, dentist, or medical director of a personal emergency technician when he met the emergency crew that transported the patient from the terminal to TTSH and NCID.

The interim orders committee noted that by doing this, the emergency medical technician ( EMT ), who was seated behind the ambulance with the patient, might have been able to inform Dr. Kong of the situation as it worsened before they arrived at TTSH and NCID, & nbsp.

Dr. Kong claims that the EMT extended an invitation for him to take a seat in the ambulance’s before. The only person in the emergency room with the patient was the EMT.

Dr. Kong was aware, however, that he was the only person capable of serving as the ambulance’s team head. He didn’t keep an eye on the victim’s condition or offer any medical attention.

Dr. Kong was unable to intervene because he was in the front of the emergency as the patient’s condition worsened.

The person was pulseless, no breathing, and unresponsive when they arrived at the hospital at 5.07 p.m.

Due to health inefficiency, respiratory treatment was stopped after 30 days. The client passed away at 5.48 p.m.

SMC and Dr. KONG’S ARGUMENTS

Due to” a considerable risk of harm” to his clients and members of the public, the SMC requested that conditions and restrictions be placed on Dr. Kong’s health register for a maximum of 18 months.

Dr. Kong made a number of assertions in the interim. He claimed that during the emergency ride, there was” no indication” that the EMT had discovered an incident involving the individual. He continued by saying that despite often turning to look behind at the emergency cabin, he did not notice the EMT keeping a close eye on the patient’s breathing.

He added that he had made a few notes about the patient’s movements, breathing, and pulse, but that the sea was” choppy” and that after making some attempts to record it.

He continued by saying that his partner assisted him in cleaning up when he got back. Out of” dread of contaminants”, everything from Batam and the bridge was subsequently thrown away, including these studies.

Dr. Kong claimed that there were” mistakes made and inadequacies” in his private lesson. He continued by saying that he had never before had to take on such a obligation and may perform better if given the chance.

” Dr. Kong had retired to assist Mr. F1 and his emergency services out of connection.” But, Dr. Kong had experienced physical burden as a result of this episode. According to the time orders committee’s grounds of choice,” Dr. Kong does not wish to put his wellbeing and his life on the line only for performing such a company.”

Dr. Kong had now made plans to further upgrade his medical license and had looked into ways to limit it.

In particular, he can just offer for himself and his family at this time thanks to his medical license. He wants to completely return to full retreat.

The committee stated that the essential undisputed facts were of a critical character when making its choice.

It emphasized the significance of protecting the general public from doctors who take on urgent health tasks but fail to perform their duties to treat their patients properly, endangering the patients’ health or even their lives.

The committee noted that the SMC did not request a suspension of Dr. Kong’s process, despite the complaint against him appearing to be an isolated event.

Because Dr. Kong’s obvious errors could possibly apply to all potential patients undergoing medical evacuees, the committee believed that the conditions sought by the SMC were reasonable.

The committee continued,” People confidence in the dignity of medical emergency is crucial, particularly in light of the patient’s death in this instance.”

Professor Alan Ng, Associate Professor Tan Tze Lee, and Professor John Lim Chien Wei made up the council, which also included attorney Kenny Chooi as a legitimate appraiser.