Family of dead SAF doctor seeks answers

Family of dead SAF doctor seeks answers

WE WRITE in response to the March 23 letter by the Ministry of Defence, 'SAF offered doctor alternative posting', regarding Captain (Dr) Allan Ooi Seng Teik, who ended his life on March 3.

Allan was proud of his Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) study award and pursued his studies and housemanship enthusiastically. He, and we, understood that his 12-year bond included two specialisation courses, and that it could be terminated, subject to liquidated damages.

When Allan signed on at 18, he had looked forward to serving out his bond as a true doctor, treating patients rather than being deployed to perform unrelated administrative tasks almost all the time.

Within his last e-mail to us, timed for release after his death, he spoke of his job as being 'terrible, no joy, no satisfaction'.

We seek answers to the following:

# What were Allan's discussions with his superior? What are the specifics of the other posting offered as mentioned by Mindef and were these documented?

# Why would a bond be breakable only in 'strong, extenuating circumstances' as stated by Mindef when this was not stated in his contract? What are these circumstances?

# We now know Allan wrote a letter to the Manpower Branch, Headquarters Medical Corps in July last year with the intention of breaking his bond. What was the outcome?

# How can a contract be subject to policy changes, including prolonging his 12-year bond by another three years for one six-month specialist course?

We feel Allan's concerns can be addressed effectively only via an inquiry by an independent panel with oversight powers. We hope to help bring possible deficiencies to light in order to avert a similar tragedy and pain to other families.

Family of the late Cpt (Dr) Allan Ooi

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