A general practitioner has been suspended for three months and fined $5,000 for not exercising due care in the management of his patients.

Dr Tan Yang Khai, 65, was found by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) to have prescribed hypnotic drugs without clear medical grounds or in reasonable quantities appropriate to the patients' needs.

He also failed to warn his patients of the potential addiction to hypnotic drugs and did not refer the patient to a medical specialist for further management, among other things.

A disciplinary inquiry was held by the Singapore Medical Council on Nov 30 last year after a complaint was made against Dr Tan earlier in April.