The recent resignation of a Taipei Veterans General Hospital gynecologist — allegedly due to the death of the fetus of a 37-year-old woman — has given rise to criticism of the two Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members who joined the patient in accusing the physician of malpractice, prompting them to issue an apology yesterday.
DPP Legislator Pasuya Yao (姚文智) and Taipei City Councilor Hsieh Wei-chou (謝維洲) yesterday bowed in a news conference in Taipei to apologize for damaging the reputation of hospital obstetrician Chen Chih-yao (陳志堯), who was accused of negligence during prenatal examinations of the woman, surnamed Huang (黃), and allegations that his actions led to a stillbirth.
“I hope I can deliver my apology to Dr Chen in person. I am willing to work as a medical volunteer and make an effort to improve the nation’s medical environment, create harmonious doctor-patient relationships and safeguard the dignity of medical professionals,” Yao said.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Hsieh said he would handle appeals in a more cautious manner in the future, but emphasized that his stance on safeguarding the lives and rights of socially disadvantaged people would remain unchanged.
The controversy originated from a news conference held by the two DPP members and Huang on Friday last week, during which Huang said she had been scheduled for a caesarean section on Saturday.
“I had my last prenatal checkup at the hospital on May 6, when the examiner discovered that my baby’s umbilical cord was squeezed and notified Dr Chen of the situation. Chen reassured me that there was nothing wrong, but three days later, my baby’s heartbeat stopped,” Huang said at the time.
Huang said she waited for seven hours on May 9 before Chen showed up to induce labor.
The fetus was later handled in an “indiscreet manner,” she said — wrapped in a plastic bag and placed into a small cardboard box.
The hospital said at the time that the average stillbirth rate was six per 1,000 live births and that it could have been Huang’s high blood pressure or diabetes that affected fetal development or caused infections.
“The cause of stillbirths is often unknown,” the hospital said, but added that it would reassess its method of cadaver disposal.
Earlier yesterday, former National Taiwan University Hospital physician Liu Lin-wei (柳林瑋) said on Facebook that Chen has resigned and cautioned the public against a future in which there are no physicians left to save lives.
“Jobs well done, Pasuya Yao and Hsieh Wei-chou! You will never hear the end of this unless you apologize,” Liu said.
The news prompted netizens to start an online petition demanding an end to what it described as the common practices of patients blaming every unpleasant outcome on physicians and of elected officials declaring someone guilty without investigating and verifying the accusations.
The petition had received more than 40,000 signatures as of press time last night.
The hospital confirmed Chen’s resignation later yesterday, but said that it was tendered long before the tragic event and was due to career-related reasons.
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