Medical institutions installing surveillance cameras: Doctor suggests conditional use by following 3 principles
Following suspected voyeurism incidents at aesthetic clinics, Dr. Wang Chao-chin, Executive Director of the Taiwan Academy of Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, proposed that medical institutions can conditionally install surveillance cameras if they adhere to three principles: proportionality, right to be informed, and use within authorized scope. These are primarily for public safety and protecting valuable medical equipment, while filming in private spaces should generally be prohibited.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 10, 2026 at 16:47
- 🔍 Collected: May 10, 2026 at 17:01 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 10, 2026 at 18:15 (1h 13m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, May 10th) Suspected voyeurism at aesthetic clinics continues to be a hot topic. Wang Chao-chin, Executive Director of the Taiwan Academy of Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, believes that medical institutions installing surveillance cameras must adhere to three principles: proportionality, the right to be informed, and use within the authorized scope. These are necessary to ensure personal safety and the security of expensive medical equipment.
Recently, pinhole cameras disguised as smoke detectors were discovered at an Airlee Clinic branch in Banqiao, triggering a ripple effect, including discussions on the necessity of installing surveillance cameras in medical institutions. Wang Chao-chin, in an interview with the media today, stated that the installation of video surveillance cameras in medical institutions is not limited to aesthetic clinics or specific departments. Its primary purpose is to ensure the safety of both the hospital and the patients.
Wang Chao-chin explained that generally, surveillance cameras in medical institutions are placed in open public spaces, such as registration desks or corridors, to prevent non-medical personnel from causing trouble or patients from falling in public areas, thus maintaining public safety. If cameras are installed inside a medical room, they are usually directed outwards, aiming to protect valuable medical equipment and property, rather than filming the patient's treatment process.
Wang Chao-chin emphasized that spaces involving privacy, such as treatment rooms, changing rooms, and restrooms, should, in principle, not have recording devices, let alone be filmed. The recent incident involving a well-known aesthetic medical group still awaits further clarification from investigators, but under normal circumstances, medical institutions do not film treatment processes.
Regarding video or audio recording by medical institutions, he pointed out that three principles should be followed. The first is the principle of proportionality, where the recording purpose should be limited to the necessary scope for the institution's self-protection, maintaining public safety, or protecting property. The second is the principle of the right to be informed, where the public should be clearly notified, for example, clinics might display "Recording in progress, please smile" at the entrance or state that the clinic has video and audio recording equipment, and proceed with registration only after consent.
The third principle is that usage should not exceed the authorized scope. If recording data was originally only for security purposes but is leaked or used for non-medical, non-essential purposes, it falls outside the scope of legal use. Wang Chao-chin said that for situations like hair removal, which involve enclosed treatment spaces, examining them against the aforementioned three principles usually reveals that recording is not necessary.
Regarding the public's current concerns that "any recording is an invasion of privacy," Wang Chao-chin stated that, in fact, surveillance equipment in medical institutions is used to protect public spaces, patients, medical staff, and medical equipment. He called on the competent authorities to promptly formulate unified guidelines for video recording in medical institutions to avoid inconsistent standards. (Editor: Lee Shu-hua) 1150510
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, May 10th) Suspected voyeurism at aesthetic clinics continues to be a hot topic. Wang Chao-chin, Executive Director of the Taiwan Academy of Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, believes that medical institutions installing surveillance cameras must adhere to three principles: proportionality, the right to be informed, and use within the authorized scope. These are necessary to ensure personal safety and the security of expensive medical equipment.
Recently, pinhole cameras disguised as smoke detectors were discovered at an Airlee Clinic branch in Banqiao, triggering a ripple effect, including discussions on the necessity of installing surveillance cameras in medical institutions. Wang Chao-chin, in an interview with the media today, stated that the installation of video surveillance cameras in medical institutions is not limited to aesthetic clinics or specific departments. Its primary purpose is to ensure the safety of both the hospital and the patients.
Wang Chao-chin explained that generally, surveillance cameras in medical institutions are placed in open public spaces, such as registration desks or corridors, to prevent non-medical personnel from causing trouble or patients from falling in public areas, thus maintaining public safety. If cameras are installed inside a medical room, they are usually directed outwards, aiming to protect valuable medical equipment and property, rather than filming the patient's treatment process.
Wang Chao-chin emphasized that spaces involving privacy, such as treatment rooms, changing rooms, and restrooms, should, in principle, not have recording devices, let alone be filmed. The recent incident involving a well-known aesthetic medical group still awaits further clarification from investigators, but under normal circumstances, medical institutions do not film treatment processes.
Regarding video or audio recording by medical institutions, he pointed out that three principles should be followed. The first is the principle of proportionality, where the recording purpose should be limited to the necessary scope for the institution's self-protection, maintaining public safety, or protecting property. The second is the principle of the right to be informed, where the public should be clearly notified, for example, clinics might display "Recording in progress, please smile" at the entrance or state that the clinic has video and audio recording equipment, and proceed with registration only after consent.
The third principle is that usage should not exceed the authorized scope. If recording data was originally only for security purposes but is leaked or used for non-medical, non-essential purposes, it falls outside the scope of legal use. Wang Chao-chin said that for situations like hair removal, which involve enclosed treatment spaces, examining them against the aforementioned three principles usually reveals that recording is not necessary.
Regarding the public's current concerns that "any recording is an invasion of privacy," Wang Chao-chin stated that, in fact, surveillance equipment in medical institutions is used to protect public spaces, patients, medical staff, and medical equipment. He called on the competent authorities to promptly formulate unified guidelines for video recording in medical institutions to avoid inconsistent standards. (Editor: Lee Shu-hua) 1150510
Stand with facts, your sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "Firsthand News" APP to get the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.