DOCTORS are allowed to sponsor a celebrity’s treatment.

Under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics (Publicity) Regulations stipulated by the Ministry of Health, health-care institutions are allowed to advertise or sponsor  services, with some restrictions.

Dr Jonathan Lee, who sponsored the service of Qiu Qiu’s breast augmentation, told The New Paper on Sunday: “I agreed only after I was certain that she is an appropriately
chosen candidate.

“And that this procedure could have a positive impact on her self-confidence and self-esteem.”

Dr Lee, a hand and reconstructive microsurgeon who also practises aesthetic medicine, clarified that it was Qiu Qiu and her production company who had approached
him for his professional opinion and participation.

“The production company had assured us that the content would be unbiased and included a description of her needs, her options and the considerations that would
lead her to make educated choice,” said Dr Lee.

Qiu Qiu said she was also not obliged to publicise the sponsorship, and was free to share her opinion, even if it turned out to be negative.

Guidelines
A spokesman for the Singapore Medical Council said: “Doctors are expected to comply with the Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, which form the fundamental
tenets of professional conduct and behaviour expected of doctors in Singapore.”

The guidelines say the doctor may sponsor, donate, participate in or render services for charitable endeavours and may agree to have his name and practice name
appear in the list of sponsors, donors or participants for the purpose of acknowledgement.

But Dr Lee said: “I think we have to be responsible in this respect. We certainly wouldn’t encourage or support a patient who came to us, for instance, who has obviously
had one too many procedures, or someone who has unrealistic demands or other underlying psychological issues.

“Personally I support them when there’s an educational value and a potential for a positive lifestyle change.”

This article was first published in The New Paper.

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