A former Singaporean surgeon was sentenced to one week in jail on Tuesday for molesting a patient on an operating table following medical procedures. The 72-year-old doctor, who cannot be named due to a court-ordered gag order protecting the victim, was convicted of outraging the modesty of the 20-year-old woman in December 2021.
The Incident
The surgeon touched the woman’s chest while she was recovering from a colonoscopy and treatment for piles, claiming it was part of a clinical breast examination. Two nurses witnessed the act and immediately reported it to their supervisors.
The doctor argued in court that he had either implied or express consent from the patient, but District Judge Shawn Ho found him guilty, stating the sedated patient was unable to provide consent. The judge also noted there was no medical basis for the examination given the patient’s condition and the procedures performed.
Witness testimony from the two nurses detailed the doctor using both hands to molest the victim under her gown. A medical expert testified that a proper clinical breast examination requires adequate exposure and would not be conducted beneath a hospital gown.
One nurse, who had assisted the doctor in approximately 10 operations a year for decades, stated she had never observed him perform a breast examination before.
Judicial Mercy
The defense presented a medical report revealing the doctor has fourth-stage prostate cancer and an estimated six to 12 months to live as of January 2026. Both the prosecution and defense agreed that judicial mercy should be considered in light of his terminal illness.
The prosecution had initially sought a jail sentence of four to six weeks, but acknowledged that a sentence of 12 to 15 months would have been considered without the doctor’s health condition. The defense requested a fine of S$6,000 to S$7,000 or a one-day jail sentence with a S$10,000 fine.
Judge Ho acknowledged the “profound tension” between the abuse of trust and the doctor’s terminal diagnosis, ultimately exercising judicial mercy. The offender began serving his sentence immediately.
He could have faced up to two years in jail and a fine for the offense, but is ineligible for caning due to his age.
The doctor is no longer listed on the Singapore Medical Council’s website.
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