According to documents filed by Alam’s lawyers – Raj Singh Shergill and Desiree Koh Jia Min of the Lee Shergill law firm – Tan told Alam he was affected by a slipped disc and spinal cord compression.
He advised Alam to undergo disk alternative surgery, which was successful, after which Alam returned to Bangladesh, based on court documents filed by Alam’s lawyers.
However, Alam developed an infection within the wound, which later healed and left a mark on the skin – a benign growth.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he was only in a position to return to Singapore for a consultation with Tan in July 2022.
According to Alam, Tan beneficial a radiofrequency medial branch neurotomy – a procedure that uses radio waves to treat pain – and guaranteed him that it will be very quick and simple.
Alam’s lawyers claim that the way in which Tan injected Alam with local anesthesia in the course of the procedure caused damage to Alam’s spinal cord.
After the procedure, Alam felt weakness in his left arm and leg, which later spread to all 4 limbs.
According to an authority report obtained by his lawyers, Alam is currently in a wheelchair, has incontinence and can’t walk – that is probably a everlasting disability.
In his claim filed in May, Alam alleges that Tan breached his duties by negligently, willfully or recklessly failing to offer him with adequate and relevant information and advice concerning the comparative risks and advantages of the procedure in comparison with other available options.
After the incident, Alam continued to be in care at Gleneagles. In the lawsuit, the hospital said it didn’t employ Tan, who’s a personal specialist from Neurosurgery International.
Instead, Tan has “the privilege of admitting patients to the clinic” at Gleneagles, the hospital said, adding that it was not liable for the care Tan provided to Alam.
In February, Parkway Hospitals Singapore, which manages and operates Gleneagles, individually sued Alam looking for payment of hospital bills.
According to the hospital’s lawsuit, it was believed that Alam could possibly be discharged around the tip of August 2022, but he “refused” and “refused to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility for further care.”
The hospital maintains that Alam “refused to pay” any a part of the prices incurred, which had risen to A$1.13 million as of January 9, 2024.
Gleneagles is represented by a legal clinic.
In Alam’s defense filed against the Gleneagles lawsuit, his lawyers maintain that Alam agreed to treatment at Gleneagles by Tan after speaking with a representative of Gleneagles’ Bangladesh branch.
Alam alleged that the representative made inferences that might lead an affordable person to conclude that Tan was sufficiently integrated into the organization to be an agent or worker of Gleneagles and that Gleneagles would subsequently be liable within the event of any breach by Tan that might end in damage or lost to Alam.
His lawyers alleged that Tan’s treatment, during which he allegedly negligently harmed Alam, was closely related to Gleneagles, an organization that marketed hospital services to foreign patients considering neurosurgery.
Alam, in his defense, also alleged that Tan and Gleneagles told him he should proceed to remain at Gleneagles for treatment “in exchange for an adjournment of court proceedings”.
Alam claimed he was told his medical and hospital bills could be deferred while he waited for payment from Tan’s insurer.
Gleneagles will then consider granting a reduction, Alam alleged in his defence.
Alam’s lawyers said their client was unable to mitigate his losses without resolution of his claim against Tan or without Tan’s insurer making an interim payment to Alam.
Lawyers also asked for a brief stay on Gleneagles’ claim until Alam recovers damages from Tan, covering hospital bills.
The court has scheduled deliberations on each lawsuits for consideration.
