Singapore court throws out Malaysian tycoon’s suit against prominent oncologist

The Singapore High Court has thrown out a negligence suit by Malaysian businessman Datuk Seri Clement Hii Chii Kok against a prominent surgical oncologist and the National Cancer Centre of Singapore (NCCS). Singapore's Today Online reported that the court in 123-page written judgment cleared Professor London Lucien Ooi of medical negligence, saying he did not misdiagnose Hii as having cancer and ill-advise him to undergo a major surgery to remove his pancreas. "This is nothing but a bald allegation ... by (Hii) in a futile attempt to fortify his claim," said judge Chan Seng Oon in dismissing the suit. The court also found that Dr Ooi was not negligent in caring for Hii after surgery in August 2010, and ruled that it was not NCCS's duty to provide Hii post-surgery care as the procedure was undertaken at the Singapore General Hospital. Hii, 58, is the managing director of SEGi University Group and executive chairman of private investment vehicle HCK Capital Group. He suffered complications after being treated for suspected pancreatic cancer at the top Singapore medical facility three years ago, only to learn months later that he did not have the ailment. "I am suing because I want to create awareness for the need for hospitals and doctors to reduce or eliminate cases of unnecessary surgeries," he had said when filing the suit in 2013. The former journalist also accused NCCS and Dr Ooi of failing to provide proper advice, ignoring the results of various other tests and failing to get his informed consent before starting him on cancer treatments in 2010. Both defendants dened the claims, and said they had never told Hii that he had cancer of the pancreas. They said there were multiple specialist opinions that showed that the cancer could not be ruled out in his case and surgery was recommended. The Straits Times (ST) had reported that following check-ups in Malaysia, Hii was referred to NCC where he was advised to undergo a scan to ascertain "hot spots" or cancerous lesions. He was advised to undergo the Whipple's Procedure — surgery to resect, or remove, portions of the pancreas, duodenum and part of the stomach. After the August 2010 surgery, the resected pancreas was found to be not cancerous. He was discharged about 10 days later. Hii complained that other tests by NCC, which included a full blood count and urine test, all yielded normal results but NCC did not advise him about these results or their significance. He returned to NCC in September 2010 for a review and was told he was recovering well. But two weeks later in Malaysia, he vomited blood and became unwell. – February 23, 2016.]]>