Airlee Clinic Suspected of Hiding Pinhole Camera, Ministry of Health and Welfare: Up to NT$250,000 Fine if Illegal
Airlee Clinic's Banqiao branch in New Taipei City is suspected of having a pinhole camera hidden in a smoke detector. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Department of Medical Affairs stated that recording requires mutual consent, and if an administrative investigation finds a violation of Article 72 of the Medical Act, a fine of up to NT$250,000 may be imposed. Local health bureaus will conduct administrative investigations.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 12:03
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency Reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 6th) Airlee Clinic's Banqiao branch in New Taipei City was recently found to have a suspected pinhole camera hidden in a smoke detector. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Department of Medical Affairs stated that recording requires mutual consent, and if an administrative investigation finds a violation of Article 72 of the Medical Act, a fine of up to NT$250,000 may be imposed.
Regarding the suspected pinhole camera at Airlee Clinic, the Taipei City Health Bureau, consumer protection officer, and police conducted an unannounced joint inspection of the clinic's Taipei branch yesterday. The group issued a statement saying that it has fully cooperated with the investigation. Once the case reaches a certain stage, the group stated that the surveillance equipment in its clinics is installed to ensure medical quality and maintain the safety of medicines and equipment, and absolutely does not infringe on consumers' personal privacy.
Liu Yu-ching, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Department of Medical Affairs, stated in a media interview today that according to Article 72 of the Medical Act, medical institutions and their personnel who become aware of or possess patient medical or health information due to their duties shall not disclose it without cause. Violators may be fined NT$50,000 to NT$250,000 according to Article 103 of the same law. At this stage, a letter will be sent to local health bureaus, requesting administrative investigations to ascertain whether this regulation has been violated.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced an amendment to the "Medical Institution Medical Privacy Protection Regulations" on January 30, 2015, expanding the scope of medical privacy protection from outpatient clinics to cover the entire hospital. During diagnosis and treatment, if either the medical staff or the patient needs to record audio or video, mutual consent must be obtained first. Liu Yu-ching reiterated that if recording is required, mutual consent is necessary to protect patient privacy.
As for whether to request the clinic to suspend operations or revoke its operating license, Liu Yu-ching said that suspension of operations is a result of administrative punishment, and there are conditions for suspension. Only after a local health unit's investigation finds concrete evidence can penalties be imposed according to regulations. It remains to be clarified whether Article 108 of the Medical Act can be applied for suspension of operations or revocation of operating license. Preliminary analysis suggests that there may be no applicable regulations for suspension.
Article 108 of the Medical Act stipulates that medical institutions that have obvious negligence in medical business management resulting in patient injury or death; knowingly record medical records or issue diagnostic certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, or stillbirth certificates that are inconsistent with facts; perform medical acts prohibited by the central competent authority; use drugs prohibited by the central competent authority; allow personnel who violate Article 28 of the Medical Practitioners Act to perform medical acts.
Or engage in improper business that harms public morals or human health; overcharge medical fees or arbitrarily set charging items and are found to be true, and fail to return the overcharged portion to the patient within the time limit. If any of the above circumstances occur, depending on the severity of the circumstances, a suspension of operations for 1 month to 1 year or revocation of operating license may be imposed on the violating medical department, service item, or all or part of its outpatient or inpatient business. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150506
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(Central News Agency Reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 6th) Airlee Clinic's Banqiao branch in New Taipei City was recently found to have a suspected pinhole camera hidden in a smoke detector. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Department of Medical Affairs stated that recording requires mutual consent, and if an administrative investigation finds a violation of Article 72 of the Medical Act, a fine of up to NT$250,000 may be imposed.
Regarding the suspected pinhole camera at Airlee Clinic, the Taipei City Health Bureau, consumer protection officer, and police conducted an unannounced joint inspection of the clinic's Taipei branch yesterday. The group issued a statement saying that it has fully cooperated with the investigation. Once the case reaches a certain stage, the group stated that the surveillance equipment in its clinics is installed to ensure medical quality and maintain the safety of medicines and equipment, and absolutely does not infringe on consumers' personal privacy.
Liu Yu-ching, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Department of Medical Affairs, stated in a media interview today that according to Article 72 of the Medical Act, medical institutions and their personnel who become aware of or possess patient medical or health information due to their duties shall not disclose it without cause. Violators may be fined NT$50,000 to NT$250,000 according to Article 103 of the same law. At this stage, a letter will be sent to local health bureaus, requesting administrative investigations to ascertain whether this regulation has been violated.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced an amendment to the "Medical Institution Medical Privacy Protection Regulations" on January 30, 2015, expanding the scope of medical privacy protection from outpatient clinics to cover the entire hospital. During diagnosis and treatment, if either the medical staff or the patient needs to record audio or video, mutual consent must be obtained first. Liu Yu-ching reiterated that if recording is required, mutual consent is necessary to protect patient privacy.
As for whether to request the clinic to suspend operations or revoke its operating license, Liu Yu-ching said that suspension of operations is a result of administrative punishment, and there are conditions for suspension. Only after a local health unit's investigation finds concrete evidence can penalties be imposed according to regulations. It remains to be clarified whether Article 108 of the Medical Act can be applied for suspension of operations or revocation of operating license. Preliminary analysis suggests that there may be no applicable regulations for suspension.
Article 108 of the Medical Act stipulates that medical institutions that have obvious negligence in medical business management resulting in patient injury or death; knowingly record medical records or issue diagnostic certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, or stillbirth certificates that are inconsistent with facts; perform medical acts prohibited by the central competent authority; use drugs prohibited by the central competent authority; allow personnel who violate Article 28 of the Medical Practitioners Act to perform medical acts.
Or engage in improper business that harms public morals or human health; overcharge medical fees or arbitrarily set charging items and are found to be true, and fail to return the overcharged portion to the patient within the time limit. If any of the above circumstances occur, depending on the severity of the circumstances, a suspension of operations for 1 month to 1 year or revocation of operating license may be imposed on the violating medical department, service item, or all or part of its outpatient or inpatient business. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150506
Stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.