Doctor Allegedly Sold Codeine Cough Preparations Illegally & Not Keeping Proper Records of Transaction

By
Shawn Ambrose
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Unless you were a superhuman kid who never fell ill, you’ve probably been given cough syrup by a doctor before.

One such preparation involves codeine, which acts as a cough suppressant.

However, codeine is also an opiate drug used to treat mild to moderate pain, which is why some people, especially teenagers, have abused it to get a cheap, easy high.

For this reason, codeine cough syrups are classified as pharmacy-only medicines in Singapore and can only be supplied by a licensed pharmacist or a licensed medical practitioner.

It’s also why doctors and pharmacies are not allowed to give out any codeine cough preparations to the same person more than once in four days.

But one doctor practising in Towner Road did just that, and now has to pay the price for it.

Doctor Allegedly Sold Codeine Cough Preparations Illegally & Not Keeping Proper Records of Transaction

Jitendra Kumar Sen, doctor and director of The Family Clinic @ Towner, is in a heap of trouble at the moment.

From 2016 to 2019, Sen is believed to have unlawfully sold codeine cough preparations to more than 10 people. It’s unclear if these people were his patients at his Towner Road clinic.

He’s also allegedly failed to record the consultations of nine people, as well as the amounts of codeine cough syrup dispensed to them.

Yesterday, the 57-year-old was charged with 18 counts of supplying more than the permitted amounts of codeine cough syrup preparations to his patients.

He’s also facing nine counts of failing to keep and maintain proper medical records.

His case has been adjourned to 30 Sep. If convicted, he could face imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to S$50,000.

Doctor Tried to Sell Erectile Dysfunction Drug to Non-Patient

This brings to mind the offences of another doctor who tried to sell erectile dysfunction drugs to a man who wasn’t his patient.

Trouble for Dr Ho Tze Woon began when his employer discovered that he had downloaded pornographic and obscene materials on his computer.

That’s bad enough, right? Well, he was working at Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic at the time, so he must have had a lot of time in between patients.

After he was dismissed by the National Healthcare Group in 2017, Dr Ho tried to sell Cialis, an erectile dysfunction drug, to a man who was not his patient.

The deal fell through the first time on the buyer’s demand, as the packaging was damaged.

It was also called off the second time they negotiated as both men couldn’t agree on a price.

In the end, Dr Ho was sentenced in March to a five-month suspension from the register of medical practitioners, as well as a S$2,000 fine.

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Featured Image: Syda Productions/shutterstock.com

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]