Health watchdog blasts cosmetic surgeon, 53, who performed liposuction on Jade Goody as ‘irresponsible and reckless’ after he sent a patient hypodermic needles in the post so she could treat herself at home
- Dr Kam Singh sent hypodermic needles to a patient so she could treat herself
- She had asked for the needles so she didn’t have to travel 100 miles to his clinic
- But the woman, from Manchester, who had liposuction, bungled DIY procedure
- Mr Singh was accused of ‘reckless’ practice was found guilty of misconduct at tribunal
Dr Kam Sing has been accused of ‘irresponsible and reckless’ practice after he mailed three packages to a woman so she could drain fluid from her abdomen
A cosmetic surgeon who performed liposuction on reality TV star Jade Goody sent hypodermic needles in the post to a patient so she could treat herself.
Dr Kam Sing has been accused of ‘irresponsible and reckless’ practice after he mailed three packages to a woman so she could drain fluid from her abdomen.
The unnamed patient who underwent liposuction at his surgery in Leicester in May 2013 asked for the needles to avoid having to travel more than 100 miles from her home in Manchester for follow up procedures.
But after Singh reluctantly agreed, the woman – known as Patient B – bungled the DIY treatment causing an accumulation of fat and fibrous tissue at the top of her stomach.
She suffered no accidental injury or infection to her body but he was reported to the General Medical Council which claimed there was a ‘risk that Patient B would misuse the needles thereby causing further complications.’
Big Brother star Jade who died from cervical cancer in 2009, secretly underwent a £4,500 liposuction operation at Singh’s clinic in 2007.
Singh also treated Jade’s mother, Jackie, for TV show Extreme Makeover.
The surgeon, who carried out the operation on Patient B at the Beauty First Clinic in Leicester was found guilty of misconduct.
But at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service no action was taken against him after he claimed he had a ‘desire to please others in order to avoid rejection.’
The hearing was told the woman made no complaint about his treatment.
Mr Singh, left, who performed liposuction on reality star Jade Goody, right, in 2007, sent the needles to the woman who didn’t want to travel more than 100 miles from her home in Manchester for follow up procedures
Mr Singh is also principal practioner at Thurmaston Medical Centre practised private aesthetic surgery at Beau Aesthetica clinic.
MPTS panel chairman Robin Ince said: ‘Giving a patient, who has demonstrated that she might injure herself, needles to continue aspiration of a wound was, at best, irresponsible and at worst, reckless.
‘In addition, the Tribunal was particularly concerned that in his evidence, whilst Dr Singh stated that he gave detailed instructions as to what Patient B should do, he did not ask her to carry out the procedure in his presence nor did he demonstrate what was to be done to her.
‘Further, the Tribunal was concerned about the possibility of an additional risk of infection or even of accidental injury by Patient B. In essence, the Tribunal concluded that Dr Singh had abrogated his responsibilities towards Patient B.’
But he added: ‘This related to a historic isolated incident, of providing needles on two occasions, from 22 June 2013 with no evidence of any infection or accidental injury to Patient B resulting from it.
‘The incident occurred almost six years ago and there has been no repetition of any like behaviour since. The Tribunal bore in mind the early admissions and was of the view that what he allowed to happen during the incident was not at his instigation but was directly because of a patient request and for her convenience.
‘There did not appear to be any complaint from her about his actions and that she had, in any event, initiated the request that he allow her to self-drain fluid from her abdomen.
‘Dr Singh has expressed regret for his actions which are an isolated incident in an otherwise unblemished career.
The 14 day hearing heard from expert witnesses who said there was a risk that the patient could have caused bacteria to get into her surgical wounds and said there would still be a ‘significant risk of infection even if surgical spirit was used for preliminary skin cleansing.’
The experts said Patient B had no real training in how to conduct such a procedure and might not fully understand any advice given.
Singh was also found found guilty of carrying out surgical procedures when he was not registered with health regulators The Care Quality Commission.
He was cleared of misconduct towards two other patients. He stopped practising liposuction procedures in November 2017.