PETALING JAYA: A Singapore general practitioner, who was charged in February with molesting and raping a patient, has been barred by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) from carrying out consultations with female patients unless he is accompanied by a female doctor acting as a chaperone.

Dr Wee Teong Boo, 66, will have a chaperone for 18 months starting Monday, reported Singapore daily TODAY.

Wee was accused of molesting a 23-year-old woman on Nov 25, 2015, and raping her between Dec 30 and 31 that year at his clinic located in Bedok North Avenue 2.

The SMC stated on its website yesterday that Wee was not allowed to examine the breast, pelvic, genital or anal areas of female patients. Only a chaperone, who must be a female registered medical practitioner in Singapore, can carry out these tasks on his behalf.

SMC said while recognising that Wee was not convicted of the charges and should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, the council also considered the seriousness of the charges against the doctor and the need to protect members of the public while criminal proceedings against him were ongoing.

The council said the conditions it had set would be reviewed after six months.

If convicted of rape, Wee could be jailed up to 20 years and fined.