NUH Withdraws Bankruptcy Bid After Finding Out Ex-Patient Was In Nursing Home

Man owed more than $290,000 after he sued hospital for negligence and lost case

- Selina Lum

The National University Hospital (NUH) withdrew bankruptcy proceedings against a former patient after finding out that he was a fully subsidised patient in a nursing home.

The man, Mr Philip Soh Keng Cheang, 61, had owed more than $290,000, mostly in legal costs and hospital bills, after he sued NUH for negligence and lost the case.

But the hospital's change of mind occurred barely an hour before the bankruptcy hearing in February, and was not conveyed in time to its lawyers, which meant Mr Soh was declared bankrupt.

More than two months later, the High Court allowed NUH's request to rescind the bankruptcy order, then granted permission for it to withdraw the bankruptcy application.

On May 29, Assistant Registrar Elton Tan published written grounds for his decision.

He noted that the change of mind took place before the bankruptcy order was made, but it was not surfaced to him at the hearing on Feb 6 owing to "the unfortunate consequence of certain events" for which neither side was to blame.

He added that it would be an obvious injustice for the bankruptcy order to remain in place, as NUH has agreed not to pursue bankruptcy proceedings on compassionate grounds, given Mr Soh's physical condition and financial situation.

In 2014, Mr Soh sued NUH following surgery performed on the neck portion of his spine.