A SENIOR eye doctor, who operated on an elderly patient without looking into his medical history or trying less invasive options, on Friday lost his appeal against his punishment for breaching his professionalism.

Dr Low Cze Hong, practising since 1972, has a private practice at Mount Elizabath Medical Centre and is also a senior consultant ophthalmologist at various hospitals and a visiting senior consultant at the Singapore National Eye Centre.

In January, he was fined $7,000 and censured by a Singapore Medical Council (SMC) disciplinary committee. He appealed against the sentence.

But the three-judge Court of Appeal not only rejected it, Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong praised the SMC for maintaining a high standard in the medical profession.

On June 26, 2002, Dr Low saw 78-year-old Toh Seng, who had neovascular glaucoma in his right eye, which was already blind.

Fluid built up inside the patient's eyball caused an increase in pressure, which left him suffering headaches.

Although Mr Toh has a regular doctor at the SNEC for 10 years, Dr Low did not refer to his medical history.

Two days later, Dr Low performed glaucoma drainage surgery - cutting a hole in the eye and inserting a tube to drain the fluid.

The tube was later infected and had to be removed. In October 2003, a complaint was lodged with the SMC.

Two charges were levelled against Dr Low: for recommending inappropriate treatment; and for not telling the patient about alternative treatments and the risks.

Associate Professor Paul Chew, chief of ophthalmology at the National University Hospital, an expert witness for the prosecution, described Dr Low's move as 'hasty and aggressive'.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.