Over the weekend of 13 and 14 September 2025, over 300 doctors, lawyers and allied health professionals attended the Annual National Medico-Legal Seminar (ANMLS) 2025 for a series of riveting talks and discussions. ANMLS is jointly organised by the SMA Centre for Medical Ethics and Professionalism (SMA CMEP) and the Medico-Legal Society of Singapore (MLSS) and was held this year at One Farrer Hotel. The two-day seminar was titled "Medical Record Keeping in an Evolving Technological and Regulatory Landscape", and covered a swathe of timely topics including the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR), documentation of medical records and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
A/Prof Lai Siang Hui, MLSS President, kickstarted the seminar with a brief opening address, and Clinical A/Prof Gerald Chua presented the first discussion on the gold standards of clinical records. Other topics presented included what good clinical records comprise from the perspective of the courts, the various challenges involved in record keeping, and the management of cybersecurity risks.
Participants returned early the next day, eager to continue their learning. Day 2 of ANMLS focused on the use of AI technology with regard to medical records, from AI's potential benefits and pitfalls to practical tips and the ethical frameworks involved. Speakers shared their insights and personal experiences with the growing adoption of AI technology. Among other nuggets of wisdom, it was emphasised that the buck stops with the clinician, and that a clinician should not let technology overtake his/her judgement.
The panel discussions on both days were well received, spurring earnest discussion between panellists and the audience, facilitated by microphones and the Slido platform for questions from the ground. Among the many questions, audience members also brought up a variety of hypothetical scenarios to clarify and elaborate upon NEHR usage, drawing detailed answers from Adj Prof Raymond Chua, CEO, Health Sciences Authority, and Dr Goh Min Liong, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Ministry of Health.
In closing, Dr Charmaine Heah, MLSS council member and SMA CMEP faculty member, thanked participants for their attendance and enthusiastic contribution to the seminar.
We would also like to express our thanks to all speakers and participants, our Gold Sponsors, CyberSafe and Medical Protection Society, as well as our other sponsors, Allium Healthcare, Standard Chartered and Summit Planners, for the success of the Annual National Medico-Legal Seminar 2025!
Adj Prof Raymond Chua (centre) posing with fellow panelists for a group photo