Lawmakers ask MAC to let doctor heal in China

The Legislative Yuan Interiors Committee asked the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday to allow doctor-legislator Kao Ming-chien (高明見) to practice medicine in China when Kao visits there sometime later this month.

Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津), the DPP chairwoman of the legislative Interiors Committee, requested that the MAC authorities give the green light to Kao, a legislator of the opposition PFP and a neurosurgeon, to treat Shanghai-based Taiwan business-people on the basis of "humanitarian considerations."

Yeh also requested that Kao, a Japan-trained neurosurgeon who did research at Harvard University, take his time while visiting Shanghai to convey the idea that "medicine is a borderless practice" to the Chinese authorities and to call for China's leaders to stop obstructing Taiwan's entry into the World Health Organization.

Kao, who is currently a PFP legislator at large, is scheduled to head to Shanghai later this week to deliver a speech at a China-Japan academic symposium on neurosurgery slated to open at Ryi Jin Hospital (瑞金醫院) Thursday.

Kao said he will also take the time to treat Shanghai-based Tai-wan business people during his stay in Shanghai.

He will also visit Guangzhou following his visit to Shanghai.

After being informed of the MAC's vaguely negative attitude on the issue, Kao said at the Interiors Committee's session yesterday that treating Taiwan business people in China will neither "hollow out" Taiwan's business clout nor cause a crisis in the country's national security.

Kao noted that he is determined to treat the Taiwan business people in Shanghai even if he might face punishment from the government for what it might consider a violation of national security interests.

MAC Vice Chairman John Teng (鄧振中), who was also present at the legislative Interiors Committee session, said that although he personally agrees with the notion of providing services to China-based Taiwan business-people and to the idea that "medicine is borderless," the MAC is responsible for most prudently considering and assessing all situations to protect the nation's interests to the fullest extent.

Teng said the MAC will make a decision on Kao's case "at the earliest possible date" after consulting other relevant agencies such as the Department of Health.

For his part, Kao said he sees no reason for the MAC to be hesitant about signaling a green light for his plan to provide medical treatment in Shanghai exclusively for patients from Taiwan since the Ryi Jin Hospital authorities have already approved his treatment plan.