Dr. Eric Gan Keng Seng, a doctor at Alexandra Hospital, has been suspended from practice for six months following a case of professional misconduct. Dr. Gan, who is a specialist in general surgery, had already been acquitted on a previous charge. This most recent case involved the death of a surgical patient.

Last year Dr. Gan was acquitted by the Disciplinary Committee (DC) of the Singapore Medical Council for a charge that questioned his competence to perform a specific type of pre-cut sphincterotomy, a type of endoscopic technique used to access the bile ducts. The specific procedure involved inserting a scope down the patient's throat, locating the bile duct, and subsequently removing a stone from the duct.

Despite being acquitted of his first charge, the court recently found him guilty of willfully neglecting his duties and mismanaging the patient's post-operative treatment. Although he had been informed of the patient's deteriorating conditions 2 hours after the procedure, Dr. Gan only saw the patient 16 hours after symptoms appeared.

The patient, 54-year-old Mr. Toh Hock Ken, died around one and a half months after the surgery due to complications.

In addition to his 6-month suspension, Dr. Gan has been ordered to pay 70% of the cost of the disciplinary inquiry.

Dr. Gan has contested both charges and appealed against his conviction, but failed on all accounts. The Ministry of Health website now indicates that he is in private practice.