The Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation (THRF) yesterday said that the Ministry of Health and Welfare failed to follow through on a “physician sex offenders search platform” that it promised in May would be up within a month.
News about National Taiwan University Hospital obstetrician and gynecologist (OB-GYN) Cheng Wen-fang (鄭文芳), for whom an arrest warrant was issued when he failed to appear in court after being released on bail for alleged sexual assault, has shocked society and sparked strong public outrage, the foundation wrote on Facebook on Friday.
“A system that shields its faults is a breeding ground for evil,” the THRF said, sharing a post that listed several OB-GYN physicians who were investigated for sexual assault or harassment over the past few years.
Photo: CNA
The OB-GYN medical association, which is responsible for training obstetricians and gynecologists, has remained silent on these cases, it added.
The ministry had promised that it would set up a “physician sex offenders search platform” within a month, but it has not made any progress, the THRF said.
“Faced with the medical association’s dereliction of duty and authorities’ passiveness, society wants to continue asking: How long do we have to wait until this cover-up is truly brought to an end?” it wrote.
THRF secretary-general Lin Ya-hui (林雅惠) yesterday said that Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) had failed to deliver on his promise in January to discuss the issue in three months, and the ministry promised the legislature that it would come up with a plan in a month, but no concrete results have been seen.
The incidents involving physicians committing sexual offenses have severely damaged patients’ trust in physicians, she said, adding that the OB-GYN medical association’s silence reflects a “cover-up culture.”
Only by upholding medical ethics and taking responsibility can it prevent “a few bad apples from spoiling the whole bunch,” Lin said.
Setting up a physician sex offenders search platform can protect people’s right to know and their safety, so the ministry should deliver on its promise and set it up as soon as possible, Lin added.
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) yesterday said that establishing the platform would need a legal basis, so the ministry is still evaluating what laws can be used and whether the names of other healthcare professionals who committed sex offenses should also be made public.
A physicians disciplinary committee meeting was held last week, where participants discussed how to bolster communications between local social affairs departments and the health department to prevent delayed processes, she said.
Additional reporting by CNA
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS