2 doctors file suit against university as medical degree not gazetted

 

PETALING JAYA: Two medical doctors have filed a suit against a private university for negligence, misrepresentation and breach of contract for giving them a degree which does not allow them to practise medicine in Malaysia.

Dr Amardas Singh Sandu and Dr Liew Mee Yew said upon completion of their course late last year, they discovered that their degree was not gazetted under the Second Schedule of the Medical Act 1971.

The plaintiffs, who filed their suit through Messrs Arnold Andrew & Co in the Shah Alam High Court early this week, have named Professor Dr Shahjahan Mohamed Yasin, the head of Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, as the first defendant.

The second defendant is Professor Andrew Walker, the president and vice-chancellor of Monash University Malaysia, named as the third defendant.

Monash University Malaysia Sdn Bhd is named the fourth defendant.

Without registering with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), these students also cannot apply for housemanship in government hospitals.

In their statement of claim sighted by FMT, Amardas and Liew, both of whom are under government scholarships, said in 2016 they accepted an offer with the Monash University Malaysia to do a five-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme.

FMT understands about 120 others who accepted a similar offer that year are also in the same predicament as Amardas and Liew.

The two said in the third year of the programme, they were informed that a new degree – Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (MD) – which was of a higher value would be given to them.

In return, they had to write an extra research paper which the plaintiffs agreed to.

They said there was an implied understanding that upon graduation, they would be qualified to apply to the MMC or get a temporary licence in order to practise medicine.

The two said last year, soon after completing their degree, they went to the MMC, only to discover the degree was not gazetted.

They informed Shahjahan, who was equally shocked but the defendants decided to offer a dual degree – MBBS and MD to solve their problems.

Amardas and Liew contend the defendants’ action amounted to negligence, misrepresentation and a breach of contract.

Both are asking for damages and loss of income amounting to RM1 million plus interest at 5% and other relief deemed fit by the court.

Lawyer Kiranjeet Kaur Sidhu, who is appearing for the plaintiffs, said the cause papers were sent by mail to the defendants.

She said a case management had been fixed on March 25 before a court registrar. - FMT