Consultant gynaecologist Yeong Cheng Toh, 43, a fertility expert and father of three, confessed that he acted improperly by having a sexual relationship with his patient, who is also married.

Not only did they have an affair, but Yeong also revealed confidential information about how two other patients at the hospital were treated to the woman.

This breached patient confidentiality regulations. He also tampered with his lover's hospital records, filling in erroneous information in her biodata.

He also failed to account for her visits and did not properly document her medical condition as well as the results of her medical examinations. It is not clear why he did this.

The council, which is the regulatory body overseeing all doctors here, noted that Yeong did not take advantage of the woman.

An SMC spokesman said: 'The patient was not physically or psychologically vulnerable, and there was no exploitation of her.'

Citing patient confidentiality, the council did not reveal details about the woman.

Yeong was involved with the woman while he was at KK Hospital between April 2003 and March 2005. After he left, he joined a clinic in Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

The SMC was alerted to the offences after KK Hospital lodged a complaint with it.

All doctors have to abide by a strict ethical code of practice and are barred from having sexual relationships with their patients.

Yeong, who had been practising since 1991, was a consultant with KK Hospital's Reproductive Medicine Unit at the time of the offences.

He has penned several papers on pregnancies in Singapore and has testified as a medical expert in cases before the High Court.

Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.