Doctor censured over pregnancy test

Doctor censured over pregnancy test

SINGAPORE: A doctor was censured by the Singapore Medical Council for failing to diagnose an Indonesian maid's pregnancy when she had been carrying a fetus for three months, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The council ordered Dr. Chong Ah Lek, who has been practicing for nearly 30 years, to pay a S$3,000 (US$1,600) penalty for professional misconduct, The Straits Times said.

Chong had certified to the Manpower Ministry that the pregnancy screening he conducted on the 22-year-old in December 2001 was negative.

Erni Sepang, 22, gave birth at her employer's home about six months later.

She has since gone home to Indonesia with her baby.

The council's disciplinary committee found Chong performed an abdominal examination while Erni was seated upright instead of lying down and also failed to take her menstrual history.

The maid also cheated during the examination. She added water to her urine so the test would turn out negative and she could keep her job in Singapore. -- DPA