Neurologist's Wrongful Dismissal Suit Dismissed After Unauthorized Access to Patient Records

In a striking case involving medical ethics and confidentiality, Dr. Tan Tung Wee Eddie, a neurosurgeon formerly employed by SingHealth, was dismissed for improperly accessing patient records. His wrongful dismissal suit was dismissed by the court, as it was established that he accessed more than 70 records of patients not under his care in an effort to expose perceived misconduct by another neurosurgeon, Dr. Chen Min Wei. Dr. Tan argued that his actions were those of a whistleblower and sought damages of over S$4.4 million (US$3.2 million) for future earnings, claiming he could not find work as a neurosurgeon thereafter.

Justice Chua Lee Ming ruled that SingHealth acted rightfully in terminating Dr. Tan's employment, highlighting that his motivations appeared to stem from a desire to undermine Dr. Chen rather than genuine concerns for patient safety. The judge characterized the harm Dr. Tan experienced in his career as self-inflicted, tracing back to a series of complaints he made in 2020 that were ultimately found to be unsubstantiated by several investigations.

The tensions between Dr. Tan and Dr. Chen escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Dr. Tan raised accusations against Dr. Chen, alleging favoritism and unethical practices. An internal inquiry into Dr. Tan's complaints revealed no evidence of wrongdoing by Dr. Chen. Repeatedly, Dr. Tan's claims were dismissed after investigations, including those regarding specific patient outcomes following surgeries under Dr. Chen's care. Eventually, a whistleblower report led to an investigation into Dr. Tan's actions, and he was found guilty of breaching patient confidentiality by accessing medical records without authorization. While he initially received a warning, the repeated breaches and disregard for data security regulations led to his dismissal.

In additional developments, the court noted that Dr. Tan's motivations were partially rooted in envy, given the perceived opportunities Dr. Chen had during the period of restrictions. Furthermore, even after his suit was dismissed, Dr. Tan expressed concern over potential notoriety and threats to his family, asking for his name to be redacted in court documents. However, the judge remarked that this request was irrelevant given the proceedings' outcome, emphasizing the inappropriateness of Dr. Tan's actions in pursuing personal vendettas against a colleague.