Aerhlie Involved in Covert Filming; Ministry of Health and Welfare to Notify Localities, Max. 1-Year Suspension Possible
Following the covert filming allegations against the cosmetic clinic Aerhlie, Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced today that it will issue a notice to local health bureaus on the 11th to impose a business suspension based on the Medical Care Act, with a maximum penalty of a one-year suspension. A meeting will also be held on the 13th to discuss strengthening patient privacy protection, including whether to conduct comprehensive inspections.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 18:21
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 18:31 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 18:35 (4 min after Collected)
Central News Agency (Reporter Shen Pei-yao, Taipei, 9th) - Regarding the pinhole camera covert filming case involving the cosmetic clinic Aerhlie, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced today that it will send a letter to local health bureaus on the 11th to impose a business suspension in accordance with the Medical Care Act, which can be up to one year. A meeting will also be held on the 13th to discuss strengthening patient privacy protection, including whether to conduct comprehensive inspections.
Aerhlie Clinic's Banqiao branch in New Taipei was recently found to have a suspected pinhole camera hidden inside a smoke detector. After investigation by New Taipei prosecutors and police, disguised surveillance camera hosts and lenses were seized from multiple branches. Aerhlie Group President Chang Ju-shan, Assistant Manager Chang, and vendor Hsieh have been detained and prohibited from communicating due to alleged offenses including interfering with sexual privacy.
Regarding this case, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang stated last night that this was a deliberate, purposeful act, and not an isolated case, which is 'unforgivable.' He has instructed the Department of Medical Affairs to handle it and impose a business suspension according to the law.
Liu Yu-ching, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, told the media today that Shih Chung-liang has clearly instructed that a letter will be sent on Monday (11th) to the health bureaus where each branch is located, requesting local competent authorities to impose a business suspension according to the law based on the evidence found.
Liu Yu-ching pointed out that Aerhlie Clinic's actions are suspected of violating Article 108, Paragraph 6 of the Medical Care Act, which states engaging in immoral or improper business that endangers human health. According to this article, a fine of New Taiwan Dollars 50,000 to 500,000 can be imposed, along with a business suspension of one month to one year, and in severe cases, even revocation of its operating license.
To comprehensively strengthen privacy protection for medical institutions, the Ministry of Health and Welfare also plans to hold a meeting next Wednesday (13th), inviting local health bureaus and groups such as the National Federation of Medical Doctors' Associations for discussion. Liu Yu-ching stated that the meeting will reiterate medical privacy regulations and discuss whether to conduct joint comprehensive inspections, similar to the practices in New Taipei City and Kaohsiung City, and the scope will not be limited to medical procedures, but will include areas with high privacy demands, such as those involving undressing.
In addition, Huang Shu-ying, Executive Director of the Taiwan Women's Link, criticized, 'Aerhlie's general manager lacks a sense of justice, even saying there were no victims.' She considers this statement to be highly despicable and lacking empathy, as victims have already filed lawsuits, and many more might be unwilling to come forward due to privacy concerns, which does not mean the harm does not exist.
Huang Shu-ying stated that cosmetic procedures involve significant exposure of body parts, and privacy protection should inherently be the highest principle. This case reflects society's long-term indulgence of privacy infringement. She called on the government to comprehensively review prevention policies, especially for medical settings with high bodily privacy, and to establish more stringent supervision mechanisms to prevent recurrence of incidents infringing on patient rights.
Huang Shu-ying also singled out the current Medical Care Act regulations, stating that for such severe privacy infringements, the maximum penalty is a business suspension of less than one year and a meager fine. Compared to the psychological harm and social costs incurred by victims, the penalties appear extremely unreasonable and lack punitive power.
She believes that covert filming by exploiting the trust of patients exposing their bodies in clinics should be more severely punished than infringements in general settings. The Legislative Yuan needs to initiate legislative amendments to strengthen administrative penalties and criminal liabilities for privacy infringements in medical settings. (Edited by Wu Su-jou) 1150509
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Aerhlie Clinic's Banqiao branch in New Taipei was recently found to have a suspected pinhole camera hidden inside a smoke detector. After investigation by New Taipei prosecutors and police, disguised surveillance camera hosts and lenses were seized from multiple branches. Aerhlie Group President Chang Ju-shan, Assistant Manager Chang, and vendor Hsieh have been detained and prohibited from communicating due to alleged offenses including interfering with sexual privacy.
Regarding this case, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang stated last night that this was a deliberate, purposeful act, and not an isolated case, which is 'unforgivable.' He has instructed the Department of Medical Affairs to handle it and impose a business suspension according to the law.
Liu Yu-ching, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, told the media today that Shih Chung-liang has clearly instructed that a letter will be sent on Monday (11th) to the health bureaus where each branch is located, requesting local competent authorities to impose a business suspension according to the law based on the evidence found.
Liu Yu-ching pointed out that Aerhlie Clinic's actions are suspected of violating Article 108, Paragraph 6 of the Medical Care Act, which states engaging in immoral or improper business that endangers human health. According to this article, a fine of New Taiwan Dollars 50,000 to 500,000 can be imposed, along with a business suspension of one month to one year, and in severe cases, even revocation of its operating license.
To comprehensively strengthen privacy protection for medical institutions, the Ministry of Health and Welfare also plans to hold a meeting next Wednesday (13th), inviting local health bureaus and groups such as the National Federation of Medical Doctors' Associations for discussion. Liu Yu-ching stated that the meeting will reiterate medical privacy regulations and discuss whether to conduct joint comprehensive inspections, similar to the practices in New Taipei City and Kaohsiung City, and the scope will not be limited to medical procedures, but will include areas with high privacy demands, such as those involving undressing.
In addition, Huang Shu-ying, Executive Director of the Taiwan Women's Link, criticized, 'Aerhlie's general manager lacks a sense of justice, even saying there were no victims.' She considers this statement to be highly despicable and lacking empathy, as victims have already filed lawsuits, and many more might be unwilling to come forward due to privacy concerns, which does not mean the harm does not exist.
Huang Shu-ying stated that cosmetic procedures involve significant exposure of body parts, and privacy protection should inherently be the highest principle. This case reflects society's long-term indulgence of privacy infringement. She called on the government to comprehensively review prevention policies, especially for medical settings with high bodily privacy, and to establish more stringent supervision mechanisms to prevent recurrence of incidents infringing on patient rights.
Huang Shu-ying also singled out the current Medical Care Act regulations, stating that for such severe privacy infringements, the maximum penalty is a business suspension of less than one year and a meager fine. Compared to the psychological harm and social costs incurred by victims, the penalties appear extremely unreasonable and lack punitive power.
She believes that covert filming by exploiting the trust of patients exposing their bodies in clinics should be more severely punished than infringements in general settings. The Legislative Yuan needs to initiate legislative amendments to strengthen administrative penalties and criminal liabilities for privacy infringements in medical settings. (Edited by Wu Su-jou) 1150509
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcasted, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.