Doctor fined and suspended 16 months for over-prescribing addictive drugs

According to Ministry of Health guidelines, the drugs, including Dormicum, Librax and Valium, should not be prescribed for long-term use as they are addictive. PHOTO: ST FILE
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SINGAPORE - A doctor who inappropriately prescribed addictive medications to four patients for several years has been slapped with a $15,000 fine and a 16-month suspension.

The Singapore Medical Council (SMC) said on Thursday (Aug 1) that Dr Chia Kiat Swan, a general practitioner at Vernon Clinic & Surgery in Jalan Sultan, had prescribed "excessive" dosages of benzodiazepines, a class of drugs that includes tranquillisers, sedatives and sleeping pills.

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