Patient mistreatment claim: TTSH doc named in police report was not involved, says hospital

Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) on Oct 22 refuted the allegations of a patient who claimed she was mistreated, adding that it stands by the decision of its medical team.

In a public Facebook post on Oct 18, the patient had shared an image of a police report she filed the same day, which alleged that she was "forcibly restrained and injected against my will" under the instructions of a doctor at the hospital on Oct 10.

She said the doctor had claimed she was of unsound mind and a danger to herself and others, and invoked the Mental Health Act. While the patient named the doctor involved, TTSH said on Oct 22 that the staff member identified "was not in fact involved in the incident".

In the police report, the patient said a team of about 10 people, including hospital staff and auxiliary police officers, had been involved in the incident.

She alleged that she was denied contact with her family or spokesperson.

She claimed she was "forcibly transferred" to the Institute of Mental Health, and was discharged later that day.

The police have confirmed with The Straits Times that a report was made.

In its Oct 22 post, TTSH said it is unable to disclose clinical details despite the allegations made, as it is bound by patient confidentiality.

The hospital did not identify the patient and ST is also not naming her owing to confidentiality concerns.

It said the clinical team involved had acted in accordance with medical protocols and their professional duty to protect the patient from further harm.

"Our hospital stands by the decision of our clinical teams," said TTSH.

It said it recognises that healthcare decisions, especially in urgent and complex situations, can be distressing for patients, and that it remains committed to supporting the patient and her family through proper channels.

It added that social media is an inappropriate platform to discuss medically sensitive information, noting that there are official hospital feedback channels and relevant authorities that can conduct a comprehensive review.

TTSH said its healthcare workers "deserve to work without fear of public harassment based on incomplete or incorrect information".

In an earlier post on Oct 21, TTSH said it was aware of online posts made by the patient, and that it takes the allegations seriously.

It said then that it recognised that situations can be misunderstood when taken out of their full context, and said it will not tolerate harassment or false accusations directed at its healthcare workers.