Looking Back at the Gentleness of the Medical Frontline: Mackay Hospital Compiles Frontline Stories into a Book
Mackay Memorial Hospital published 'Spread Love and Do Good,' a book compiling 45 touching frontline medical stories, including a doctor's reflections on the Polam Kopitiam food poisoning incident.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 17, 2026 at 19:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 17, 2026 at 20:02 (31 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 22:12 (26h 10m after Collected)
(Central News Agency Reporter Shen Pei-chi, Taipei, 17th) "Thank you for buying us some time." After the death of patients in the Polam incident, gratitude from the families made Mackay Hospital physician Wang I-ting look back at the moments intersecting life and death, realizing that medicine is not just about saving lives, but also about accompanying them through the final journey. This story is included in the book.
The 2024 Polam Kopitiam Bongkrekic acid food poisoning incident shocked Taiwan. Dr. Wang I-ting, a critical care physician at Mackay Hospital, was treating patients on the frontline at the time. This emotional journey is recorded in the book "Spread Love and Do Good" (Chuan Ai Hsing Shan) published by Mackay Hospital today. This work compiles 45 moving stories that took place at bedsides, in operating rooms, and in community corners, authentically recording the life intersections between medical staff, patients, and their families.
At the book launch, Wang I-ting recalled that the two patients brought to Mackay Hospital were aged 39 and 40. Although they did not know each other, an accident during a daily meal put them on the same difficult medical path. Faced with a toxin with no antidote, the medical team did their utmost, but a miracle did not happen, and the patients unfortunately passed away.
"It was supposed to be a normal meal, but it ended up being an irreversible disaster," Wang I-ting lamented. She thought this regret would fade with time, but unexpectedly, months later, the mother of one of the patients returned to the hospital. Without any blame, she said with gratitude: "Dr. Wang, thank you and your team for buying us some time."
This expression of gratitude left Wang I-ting speechless at the moment. She realized that the meaning of medicine is not always successfully saving a life every time, but when life reaches its end, helping patients and their families have dignity and time to say goodbye properly, and choosing how to walk the final stretch, is the gentlest and most meaningful thing in medicine.
Dr. Chang Wen-han, Superintendent of Mackay Memorial Hospital, revealed at the press conference that he shed tears several times while reading this book. He stated that the assistance of frontline medical staff allows patients to see the light in despair. This love inherits Dr. Mackay's spirit of "loving your neighbor as yourself," making medical care no longer a cold procedure, but the most practical and warm action.
In addition, the book includes Professor Chen Chiao-chi of the Department of Psychiatry passing on medical ethics, emphasizing the resilience of doctors under pressure. Wang Chi-wei, Chief of the Public Affairs Section at Mackay, pointed out that this book was personally written by over 30 medical staff who are non-professional writers, bringing the most sincere sharing. They simultaneously created the single of the same name, "Spread Love and Do Good," hoping to transmit the essence and warmth of medical care to every corner of society through words and musical notes. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150417
The 2024 Polam Kopitiam Bongkrekic acid food poisoning incident shocked Taiwan. Dr. Wang I-ting, a critical care physician at Mackay Hospital, was treating patients on the frontline at the time. This emotional journey is recorded in the book "Spread Love and Do Good" (Chuan Ai Hsing Shan) published by Mackay Hospital today. This work compiles 45 moving stories that took place at bedsides, in operating rooms, and in community corners, authentically recording the life intersections between medical staff, patients, and their families.
At the book launch, Wang I-ting recalled that the two patients brought to Mackay Hospital were aged 39 and 40. Although they did not know each other, an accident during a daily meal put them on the same difficult medical path. Faced with a toxin with no antidote, the medical team did their utmost, but a miracle did not happen, and the patients unfortunately passed away.
"It was supposed to be a normal meal, but it ended up being an irreversible disaster," Wang I-ting lamented. She thought this regret would fade with time, but unexpectedly, months later, the mother of one of the patients returned to the hospital. Without any blame, she said with gratitude: "Dr. Wang, thank you and your team for buying us some time."
This expression of gratitude left Wang I-ting speechless at the moment. She realized that the meaning of medicine is not always successfully saving a life every time, but when life reaches its end, helping patients and their families have dignity and time to say goodbye properly, and choosing how to walk the final stretch, is the gentlest and most meaningful thing in medicine.
Dr. Chang Wen-han, Superintendent of Mackay Memorial Hospital, revealed at the press conference that he shed tears several times while reading this book. He stated that the assistance of frontline medical staff allows patients to see the light in despair. This love inherits Dr. Mackay's spirit of "loving your neighbor as yourself," making medical care no longer a cold procedure, but the most practical and warm action.
In addition, the book includes Professor Chen Chiao-chi of the Department of Psychiatry passing on medical ethics, emphasizing the resilience of doctors under pressure. Wang Chi-wei, Chief of the Public Affairs Section at Mackay, pointed out that this book was personally written by over 30 medical staff who are non-professional writers, bringing the most sincere sharing. They simultaneously created the single of the same name, "Spread Love and Do Good," hoping to transmit the essence and warmth of medical care to every corner of society through words and musical notes. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150417