THE various reports and letters about Dr Susan Lim's case have been thought-provoking.

As a voluntary patient advocate to cancer patients, I have come across many patients and their family members who are willing to do anything to seek treatment, even if it is just to extend life expectancy by a few months. They pay hefty prices for the treatments and never question the fairness of the charges.

I urge the Health Ministry to embark on a special audit to ascertain the reasonableness of fees charged by private doctors, in order to ensure that they are not taking advantage of their patients.

The notion of top doctors deserving top dollar ("Shouldn't top doctors charge top dollar?" by Dr Wong Wee Nam; Thursday) is not helpful; it will only escalate health-care costs.

Lee Soh Hong (Miss)