Dr Justin Quek Pong Thia, 41, of Wesley Family Clinic & Surgery at Block 265, Bukit Batok East Avenue 4, was found guilty by the SMC's Disciplinary Committee (DC) of inappropriately doling out benzodiazepines to patients without exercising diligence and due care.

The pills given by Dr Quek usually exceeded the recommended two weeks. He also did not reduce the dosage nor stop the prescriptions at any point for months and even years.

'This pattern of prescribing was clearly inappropriate, making the patients physically and psychologically dependent on the drugs,' said the SMC in a statement on Tuesday.

The action against Dr Quek was initiated by the Ministry of Health.

At a formal inquiry held on July 24 last year, Dr Quek, who had been practising as a medical practitioner for 11 years, faced 20 charges for regularly prescribing Erimin, Domicum, Nitrazepam, Midazolam and other sedatives to his patients.

He initially claimed trial to all 20 charges.

In the interest of expediency, the disciplinary committee first proceeded with six charges and stood down the other 14 charges.

The DC, which found Dr Quek guilty of the six charges, said: 'The DC was of the view that in treating insomnia, it was prudent to start with antihistamine or mild benzodiazepine first. However, Dr Quek started off with a potent short- acting benzodiazepine like Midazolam or controlled drug like Erimin.

'The DC took into account the fact that the number of tablets given by Dr Quek usually exceeded the recommended period of two weeks.'

It added that Dr Quek did not comply with the guidelines for prescribing benzodiazepines issued by MOH in August 2002.

'There was no strategy or plan to reduce the dosage and the DC was disturbed that there were no interval between prescriptions, sometimes over a period of months or years,' it further noted.

'The DC was of the view that Dr Quek should have known or ought to have known that this pattern of prescribing was clearly inappropriate, making the patients physically and/or psychologically dependent on the drugs.'

At a further hearing on March 27, the prosecution withdrew three charges and Dr Quek pleaded guilty to the remaining 11 charges.

In meting out the sentence, the DC said it took into account Dr Quek's previous clean record during his practice of about 11 years, and his decision to plead guilty to the remaining 11 charges instead of contesting them.

Besides the suspension, fine and censure, Dr Quek had to give a written undertaking to the Medical Council that he will not engage in the conduct complained of or any similar conduct. He was also ordered to pay the costs and expenses of the proceedings including the costs of the solicitors to the Council and the Legal Assessor.