Errant doctor receives fine, suspension and censure over unapproved experimental treatments

For administering experimental treatment on three unwilling patients, a doctor has been fined $10,000 and received suspension and censure by the Singapore Medical Council.  TODAY reports that 57-year-old general surgeon Dr Pang Ah San had allegedly inserted a loop percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube into three patients outside the context of approved clinical trials.  The tube is an external feeding device inserted into the stomach and used by patients unable to swallow.  The Council launched and investigation after a complaint was lodged in 2010, and they found Dr Pang guilty of three charges of professional misconduct. The tube that he used differed in terms of design and inserted position from a standard one, and was not generally accepted by the profession.  Dr Pang was attempting to validate the tube as a form of treatment, and thus carried out the experimental procedures outside approved clinical trials. He has since received a 6-month suspension, censure, a fine of $10,000 and will have to pay the full legal costs of the case on an indemnity basis. Photo: Dr.Farouk via Flickr