Taipei Health Department Investigates Allegations of Clinics Circumventing Suspension Orders After Hidden Camera Scandal

The Taipei Department of Health (DOH) has launched an investigation into allegations that aesthetic clinics, previously ordered to suspend operations due to a hidden camera scandal, are continuing to provide services at other locations. City Councilor Hung Wan-chen reported that suspended clinics have been contacting clients, offering to transfer their services to "secure after-sales locations" staffed by the same original medical teams.

Since early May, four aesthetic clinics have been ordered to suspend operations for six months and fined NT$500,000 each following the discovery of hidden cameras. The DOH clarified that during a suspension, clinics must retain their own medical records, and those records cannot be transferred to other facilities. Furthermore, physicians-in-charge of suspended clinics are prohibited from practicing medicine during the suspension period. Under Article 29-1 of the Physician Act, violating this order leads to the revocation of a medical license, and further violations can result in the permanent revocation of the physician's certificate.

Councilor Hung raised concerns regarding patient data privacy and medical security. She noted that sensitive information—including medical records, treatment histories, pre- and post-operative images, and allergy information—should not be treated as transferable "corporate assets" when a clinic changes its name. She questioned whether the city's administrative penalties were being undermined by these workarounds, warning that if suspended clinics can simply redirect operations to other facilities, the regulatory measures lose their deterrent effect and public trust is compromised.