HC Surgical raised stake in surgeon's practice despite SMC complaint

Singapore

THE board of HC Surgical Specialists (HCSS) said it was aware a complaint had been filed against surgeon Julian Ong when it forked out S$3.8 million to acquire an additional 19 per cent stake in his private practice, Julian Ong Endoscopy & Surgery (JOES), late last year.

A woman had lodged a complaint against Dr Ong, whose endoscopy clinic is 70 per cent-owned by HCSS, with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) in June 2018. She claimed that Dr Ong and another specialist - who is not part of the HCSS group - had colluded to have sex with "vulnerable" female patients, after she saw WhatsApp messages between the two men.