TCM physician wins S$12,500 in damages from patient who defamed her in Google review
The patient had gone for acupuncture and other treatments but later developed weakness in her arm and was diagnosed with a nerve injury.
Kin Teck Tong TCM Clinic physician Ms Chau Mei Sze has been awarded S$12,500 (US$9,751) in damages after a patient defamed her in a Google review. However, the court deemed a second review posted by the same patient to be fair comment and thus not defamatory. Ms Cheryl Lim Ching Ling visited the clinic on Nov 17, 2024, seeking treatment for neck and shoulder pain.
She reported experiencing weakness in her arm after treatment, leading her to believe acupuncture may have caused her condition. Ms Lim's doctor diagnosed her with neurapraxia of the upper extremity and cervical radiculopathy, a pinched nerve. Ms Chau claimed Lim asked for a refund and hospital expenses compensation without providing medical reports or receipts, and threatened to post more negative reviews.
The clinic denied refunding any expenses. Ms Lim posted a second negative review on Dec 10, 2024, again accusing Ms Chau of incompetence and incompetence. Ms Chau's lawyers issued a letter of demand, but Ms Lim refused to provide an apology or compensation. District Judge Sim Mei Ling found the first review capable of being defamatory, as it questioned Ms Chau's qualifications, but deemed the second review as fair comment, as it was a personal, honest opinion about the clinic's services.
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