Dato Leslie Lam
Senior Advisor | Shareholder | Singapore
Dato Dr. Leslie Lam
Dato Dr. Leslie Lam Kwok Tai is a distinguished Singaporean cardiologist renowned for his pioneering contributions to cardiac care in Southeast Asia.
Early Life and Education
Born on October 7, 1942, Dr. Lam completed his secondary education at St. Joseph’s Institution in Singapore and Blackrock College in Dublin, Ireland. He pursued his medical studies at University College Dublin, obtaining his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and Bachelor of Obstetrics in 1967. He further earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology with Honours in 1969 and a Diploma in Child Health in 1975.
Medical Career
Dr. Lam’s medical journey began with a cardiac fellowship at the Cardiothoracic Institute, Brompton Hospital, London. In 1982, he returned to Singapore, serving as a Senior Registrar and later as a Consultant Cardiologist at Singapore General Hospital. He was instrumental in introducing and performing Singapore’s first Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), a non-invasive procedure for treating coronary artery disease. Additionally, he pioneered the use of Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) in Singapore, offering alternative treatments for patients unsuitable for surgery.
International Roles and Recognitions
Dr. Lam’s expertise has been recognized beyond Singapore. He served as the personal physician and cardiologist to the Sultan of Brunei, who conferred upon him the title of Dato in 1984. His pro bono work includes leading medical teams to Myanmar, where he has been an Honorary Consultant to the Ministry of Health since 1993, and to the Republic of Seychelles as a Visiting Consultant since 1997.
Academic and Professional Achievements
In recognition of his contributions to medicine, Dr. Lam was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by University College Dublin in 2005 and received a Doctor of Medicine honoris causa from the National University of Ireland in 2014. He has also been a Governor of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions in the USA since 1995.
Current Practice
Dr. Lam continues his medical practice at The Cardiac Centre, Farrer Park Medical Centre in Singapore, where he remains dedicated to advancing cardiac care and mentoring the next generation of cardiologists.
Legal Proceedings
In 2011, a patient lodged a complaint against Dr. Lam, alleging professional misconduct related to a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure performed that year. The patient claimed that Dr. Lam had not obtained informed consent prior to the procedure. The Singapore Medical Council (SMC) initiated disciplinary proceedings, and in 2016, a Disciplinary Tribunal convicted Dr. Lam of failing to obtain informed consent, imposing a three-month suspension. Dr. Lam appealed the decision. In October 2017, the Court of Three Judges overturned the tribunal’s conviction, completely clearing Dr. Lam of all allegations. The court found that the tribunal had erred in its judgment, noting that while Dr. Lam’s documentation of the consent-taking process was inadequate, there was evidence indicating that the patient had been informed about the procedure. The court emphasized the importance of maintaining clear and accurate medical records but concluded that the conviction could not stand based on the evidence presented.
Dr. Lam’s career reflects a blend of clinical excellence, innovative practice, and a commitment to medical advancement both locally and internationally.