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Hu may still sue over medical records

Re-elected Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) said yesterday that he hasn't yet undecided whether he will sue the 12 doctors who released what they claimed to be his medical records before the Dec. 3 elections in an attempt to diminish his chances of winning.

Hu, who looked quite healthy despite reports that he suffered a stroke on a trip to the US in August 2002, made the remarks when asked to comment on the penalties meted out to the 12 doctors by the Medical Doctor Disciplinary Committee under the Taichung City Government's health authorities on Wednesday.

One of the doctors -- Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Peter Lin (林進興), who played a leading role in disclosing what he claimed were Hu's medical records at a news conference in Taichung -- received the harshest punishment, with his licence to practice medicine suspended for one year.

Another was banned from practicing medicine for one month and ordered to attend 32 hours of classes on medical ethics. The others were given warnings and must attend mandatory classes on medical ethics totalling between eight and 24 hours.

Hu, of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), said he respects the rulings by the city government's health authorities, adding that he had not interfered in their decisions in any way.

Hu said that the outcome is not yet final, because health authorities at a higher level might still have a say on the issue. He said he will not rule out any possibility, and will wait for the final result before deciding whether it is necessary to sue the 12 doctors.

Meanwhile, the KMT legislative caucus urged Lin to withdraw from the legislature's Sanitation, Environment and Social Welfare Committee to avoid a conflict of interest.

Caucus whips noted that Lin has another case pending against him. In October the Bureau of National Health Insurance said that his hospital used forged records of overnight patients to get reimbursements from the bureau.

Asked to comment on the dispute over the ruling by Taichung's health authorities, a spokesman for the Department of Health (DOH) said Kaohsiung City's health authority will have to either enforce the ruling or hold a hearing of its own to let Lin defend himself.

The spokesman also said that Lin can appeal to the DOH's disciplinary committee within 20 days. If the DOH upholds the ruling, he will be banned from practicing medicine for one year.
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