Airlee, Guangze Medical Aesthetics Clinics Report Peeping Incidents; New Taipei Expands Anti-Pin-hole Audit

Central News Agency (CNA) -- (CNA reporters Huang Hsu-sheng, Tsao Ya-yen, New Taipei, 8th) Following the ongoing hidden camera peeping allegations at Airlee Clinic, the New Taipei City Government today stated that in addition to requiring Airlee's four branches in New Taipei to implement privacy regulations and consumer protection claim procedures, it also launched an expanded "Anti-Pin-hole Audit Project" targeting saunas and fitness gyms, making privacy protection a key focus. After the peeping incident at Airlee Clinic, some netizens revealed that other medical aesthetics clinics also had suspected hidden camera peeping. The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office and police, along with the Health Bureau, today jointly inspected Guangze Medical Aesthetics Clinic's Banqiao Qian and Zhongshan branches. Mayor Hou Yu-ih was asked about this matter today after presiding over the inauguration ceremony of the "Hakka Tucheng Hall." Hou Yu-ih said that the city government has specially established a joint public safety task force to launch an expanded "Anti-Pin-hole Audit Project" targeting all medical aesthetics clinics, sports venues, fitness centers, saunas, etc., across the city, to protect citizens' privacy and right to medical care. The city government stated that for toilets, bathing spaces, changing rooms, and consultation rooms in the aforementioned places with personal privacy and safety concerns, the police will be dispatched to scan and detect whether illegal pin-hole cameras are installed, and will never tolerate acts that infringe on citizens' privacy. Yang Shih-hao, Chief Secretary of the Health Bureau, stated in a phone interview with CNA that for surveillance equipment installed in medical clinics, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has stipulated "Medical Institution Medical Privacy Protection Regulations," mainly to prevent medical violence, clarify medical disputes, and avoid infringing on patient privacy. Yang Shih-hao said that in addition to illegal peeping involving criminal liability, surveillance cameras installed in public areas of medical institutions must have notices explaining their presence. As for surveillance cameras installed in medical consultation rooms, patients must be clearly informed and give "informed consent" either in writing or verbally, which is also a key focus of recent audits. The Health Bureau stated that yesterday, in conjunction with consumer protection officers, it audited Airlee's four branches in New Taipei and has requested the operator to provide further explanations on how "informed consent" is obtained for the installed surveillance cameras. The City Fire Department stated that the public safety task force has comprehensively inventoried places with private spaces and strengthened joint public safety audits. This afternoon, it again conducted audits of saunas and fitness gyms, in addition to existing building public safety and fire safety, also incorporating privacy safety as a key inspection item. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150508