NUH accused of failing to treat boy, 12, with special needs despite 'severe, prolonged vomiting'

After her 12-year-old son with special needs began vomiting continuously for days, his family brought him to the National University Hospital (NUH) for checks in December 2025.

However, one of the boy's doctors allegedly told his family to "let him vomit it out" instead of prescribing any medications, reported Stomp.

When the boy's family noticed his symptoms persisted for weeks, they took him to NUH for a specialisation consultation in January 2026.

Although the boy had suffered "significant and visible weight loss", the specialist apparently told his family to continue observing his condition, instead of ordering checks or prescribing treatment.

On Jan. 12, the boy's mother, surnamed Huang, took to Facebook to voice her frustration, describing her son's experience at NUH as "extremely disappointing, distressing, and unacceptable".

First visit to NUH

According to Huang's post, her family brought her son to NUH's Emergency Department on Dec. 27, 2025, after he vomited continuously for days and showed no signs of improvement.

However, a junior doctor apparently did not prescribe any medication to Huang's son and allegedly told his family to "let him vomit it out".

Huang claimed that a senior doctor only stepped in at the family's insistence.

After the senior doctor administered a single dose of medication, Huang said her son's condition improved "immediately".

Although the vomiting did not stop completely, Huang claimed that the improvement was a clear sign that "medical intervention works".

Second visit to NUH

After Huang's son continued suffering from "severe, prolonged vomiting", her family brought him to NUH's Paediatric Gastroenterology division for a specialist consultation on Jan. 12, 2026.

According to her, the specialist was aware that her son's condition had been persisting for months and that he had suffered "significant and visible weight loss", with his bones showing under his skin.

Huang said the specialist allegedly told the family "to observe" his condition, instead of having Huang's son undergo checks or prescribe any treatment.

She also claimed the specialist failed to explain the possible causes of her son's symptoms or inform her of the next steps.

Lodged complaint

Huang claimed that she had called NUH's feedback hotline multiple times after her visits, but she apparently only received a reply after leaving "an angry message".

During the call, Huang said she had requested that NUH schedule another complimentary specialist consultation for her son or issue a refund of the consultation fees.

She claimed that the NUH employee who answered the call had promised to provide an update within two days.

Huang added that she would escalate the case to the Ministry of Health (MOH) if it was not resolved properly.

Huang's son undergoing treatment at KKH

On Jan. 15, Huang shared an update in her Facebook post, stating that her family had brought her son to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).

Test results showed that Huang's son was "significantly underweight", and his doctor also found "a foreign object" in his bowel through an X-ray examination.

Huang claimed that the doctor had said that the object presented a risk and required treatment, even though it might not be the direct cause of her son's prolonged vomiting.

She also revealed that her son is currently undergoing treatment, and the cause of his vomiting is under investigation.

NUH statement

In response to Mothership's queries, a National University Hospital spokesperson confirmed that the hospital is aware of Huang's post.

The spokesperson said NUH takes all patient concerns "seriously" and has reviewed the case and its clinical processes "carefully".

First visit to NUH

According to the spokesperson, during the Dec. 27 visit, Huang's son was assessed by the clinical team on duty, who conducted "a thorough evaluation, including a blood test".

"While there was no immediate intervention required, the accompanying caregiver was offered the option for admission, given the medical background and duration of symptoms," read the statement.

However, the offer was declined, said the spokesperson.

In an update on Jan. 15, Huang confirmed in her Facebook post that NUH had offered such an option.

However, her family turned it down because of her son's special needs and "the risk of emotional distress in an unfamiliar setting for a long time".

Furthermore, as there were no further tests or treatment allegedly being planned, Huang claimed that her family decided to bring her son home for observation and wait until their specialist visit to undergo the tests.

Second visit to NUH

During Huang's son's second visit to the hospital, the spokesperson said that the boy was seen by a senior consultant, who conducted "a detailed clinical assessment".

"At the time of the consultation, the child was assessed to be stable and had no symptoms that required immediate investigations or hospital admission," read the statement.

Additionally, the spokesperson said that the boy's family had reported that his symptoms had "already improved with non-medical measures".

"Based on the child's signs of improvement reported at the visit, the care plan, including close monitoring and symptom observation, was discussed with and agreed upon by the caregiver present during the consultation," read the statement.

The hospital also arranged a follow-up appointment to ensure continuity of care, said the spokesperson.

"Should there have been any deterioration or additional concerns in the interim, the family would have been advised to seek earlier review," added the spokesperson.

Reached out to boy's family

According to the spokesperson, NUH has reached out to the family to provide further clarification and to better understand their concerns.

"While we are unable to comment on individual medical details publicly due to patient confidentiality, we are addressing the concerns raised in the post and are engaging the family directly to provide clarification," read the statement.

The spokesperson emphasised that NUH remains committed to "providing safe, appropriate, and compassionate care" to all its patients.

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