"However, as the settlements were undertaken with
non-disclosure requirements, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is unable
to determine the true nature of these cases".
Given that public hospitals are funded by public funds,
I believe that MOH has the obligation to make available for public
scrutiny, the total (if not individual) payouts for such
claims.
Certainly more accountability is necessary rather then
just other ministers making unscrupulous, unsubstantiated claims
like so reported:
"Dr
Balaji Sadasivan promises lower healthcare costs if PAP given
strong mandate"
Title : Hospitals make an
average 8 out-of-court settlement cases a year
Date : 20 January 2009 1557
hrs (SST)
URL :
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/403696/1/.html
SINGAPORE: Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said there were on average
eight cases a year where the hospitals made an out-of-court
settlement with the patients as part of the mediation
process.
In these cases, the hospital or staff concerned might have had some
liability or were negligent.
However, as the settlements were undertaken with non-disclosure
requirements, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is unable to determine
the true nature of these cases.
Mr Khaw gave this update in a written answer to a parliament
question by Ang Mo Kio MP Lee Bee Wah on the incidence of medical
negligence at public hospitals.
He said heavy demand on public hospitals should not be an excuse
for any act of medical negligence.
A healthcare professional may be found negligent by the court if he
fails to exercise reasonable diligence and care when providing
treatment and causes injury to his patient as a result.
Ms Lee also asked about the procedures in place to detect such
negligence.
Mr Khaw said hospitals have in place a Sentinel Event Reporting
System where the hospitals' Quality Assurance Committee will
promptly look into any alleged case of medical negligence.
In the review, the committee will determine the root causes,
recommend strategies to reduce risk and follow up on their
implementation.
The MOH will be notified of all such reviews and it will monitor
the follow-up actions to ensure that the corrective measures are
put in place and that useful lessons are shared with the healthcare
community.
Mr Khaw added that not all claims of medical negligence are valid.
Some adverse outcomes happen in hospitals despite the best efforts
and may not be due to medical negligence.
For example, a patient can develop a serious drug allergy after
receiving an antibiotic for the first time. This may be an
acceptable adverse outcome of the drug. - CNA/vm