Doctors helping with your drug problem

Depends on what you mean by "helping" here. Doctors are expected to prescribe drugs to patients. However, are the drugs prescribed supposed to meet the patient's need, or the patient's demand? More drugs sold mean more profit for the clinic and since clinics are businesses, some doctors would be tempted to place profits before patients.

Mar 2, 2010
More docs lax with drugs
By Joan Chew

THE Singapore Medical Council (SMC) has raised the alarm over the growing number of errant doctors.

In the latest case yesterday, the SMC fined, censured and suspended a general practitioner from practice for six months after he had been charged with inappropriately prescribing drugs to patients.

The Disciplinary Committee (DC) of the SMC found Dr Tan Tek Young guilty of failing to exercise due care in the management of his patients at his clinic in Bedok North.

Of the 22 charges against the doctor, 21 related to the inappropriate prescription of benzodiazepines as hypnotic medication and one to the inappropriate prescription of Subutex, a controlled drug used in treating heroin addiction.

Two of the charges related to both prescription of benzodiazepines and Subutex, while five related to the prescription of both benzodiazepines and a cough mixture containing the opiate, codeine.

Commenting on the case in a statement yesterday, the DC said that Dr Tan's lax prescription of Subutex was 'particularly troubling'.