Taipei City: Galderma Clinic's Zhongxiao Branch Ordered to Suspend Operations for 6 Months for Violating Patient Privacy

(Central News Agency, Reporter Chen Yu-ting, Taipei, 15th) Following the discovery and penalization of Airlee's Daan and Nanjing branches for serious patient privacy violations with suspensions and fines, the Taipei City Department of Health announced today that Galderma Clinic's Zhongxiao branch had committed the same illegal acts, imposing a fine of NT$500,000 and ordering an immediate six-month suspension of operations.

The Taipei City Department of Health stated this afternoon that due to serious patient privacy violations at Airlee's Daan and Nanjing branches, the two clinics were ordered to suspend operations for six months and fined a total of NT$1.25 million.

In a press release this evening, the Health Bureau stated that Galderma Clinic's Zhongxiao branch also had a serious and significant violation of patient privacy, contravening Article 108, Section 6 of the Medical Care Act, which prohibits "engaging in indecent or improper business that harms human health." In addition to a NT$500,000 fine, the clinic was ordered to suspend operations for six months, effective immediately.

Furthermore, DPP Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng questioned during a police and health department interpellation at the Taipei City Council this afternoon why the Health Bureau had not imposed administrative penalties on Airlee's Station Front branch and Galderma Clinic's Taipei Sanmin branch, where traces of suspected camera removal were found.

Taipei City Department of Health Commissioner Huang Chien-hua responded that criminal facts have only been confirmed at Airlee's Daan and Nanjing branches, while traces of suspected camera removal were found at the others. He emphasized that the key is what was recorded, and penalties will be issued as soon as privacy violations are confirmed, with the investigation ongoing.

Lin Yen-feng questioned why Taipei City's actions were so slow when the Kaohsiung City Government issued penalties yesterday and the New Taipei City Government did so today. Huang Chien-hua said they are actively maintaining contact with the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office and reviewing the footage, and will issue penalties as soon as evidence is available. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150515