Lipstick on a Pig

To me, the question on whether or not TCM "specialists" should be allowed to call themselves specialists is as meaningless as a discussion on whether an astrologer should be allowed to call himself a "specialist astrologer" (in maybe the sign Aquarius?); you can legislate to regulate something, you can have Bills and Gazettes to stipulate who can or cannot call themselves by what terms, but at the end of the day, it doesn't change the fact that if the body of knowledge behind something is not based on reality, a "specialist" in that field is as much a charlatan as a "non-specialist".

Dr Ong gives us a summary of the problem with the status of TCM in Singapore in his letter to the ST Forum today:


It opened Pandora's box

WHEN the Health Ministry followed China's example by registering and certifying practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it opened a Pandora's box by not defining the limits of practice and putting in place clear regulations to safeguard patients' welfare ('Health Ministry to probe TCM 'specialists'; Monday).

Singapore has a double standard regarding medical practice. For practitioners of Western medicine, mistakes such as omission of a test, missed diagnosis, failure to inform the patient of possible treatment complications and well-intentioned misjudgment would land doctors in legal trouble.

But TCM practitioners seem to enjoy an exemption from such obligations. Strict oversight of medical practice is highly desirable and it should apply equally and consistently to all healers of diseases.

It is not right that one school requires scientific proof and evidence for its practice and is held responsible for possible errors, while the other is exempt from the need for scientific scrutiny and is free of legal responsibility of the outcome.

China has its reasons for promoting TCM. We appear to have followed suit for reasons of affordability, medical tourism and the muddled belief that freely allowing all schools and methods of medical practice will lead to progress and innovations.

Based on my 50 years of medical practice, including teaching in medical schools, and my knowledge as a person primarily educated in Chinese, I can categorically declare that if TCM follows a scientific path, it will eventually become Western medicine as we know it.

But the reinvention of the wheel has a long way to go.

Dr Ong Siew Chey


Not much more needs to be said besides that, is there?