The family of a woman who died after undergoing weight-loss surgery in Kaohsiung today called on authorities to investigate the doctor for alleged malpractice and overcharging.
The family held a news conference alongside Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) and KMT Kaohsiung city councilors Hsu Tsai-chen (許采蓁) and Huang Hsiang-shu (黃香菽).
The family said their deceased relative, surnamed Lin (林), underwent weight-loss surgery once in 2022 and had been looking to do the surgery a second time.
Photo: Wang Jung-hsiang, Taipei Times
After being refused by many doctors in northern Taiwan due to the surgery’s high risk, Lin contacted a doctor in Kaohsiung who has more than 10,000 followers online, the family said.
This doctor scheduled the surgery without a detailed diagnosis and treatment evaluation, and requested that Lin transfer more than NT$1 million (US$33,820) in fees to a private account, which is outside the normal hospital billing process, they said.
The family questioned the doctor’s motivations, as phone records showed they were not willing to perform the surgery until additional payment was discussed.
In addition, postoperative medical records and receipts have yet to be delivered, they added.
Ko questioned whether the process was legal, as the doctor collected medical expenses to a personal account rather than through a medical institution, and bought equipment from China for the procedure.
Hsu showed a receipt for an “online care consulting fee” and questioned whether this justifies the additional NT$1 million in medical expenses.
The family called on medical authorities to investigate whether the doctor was authorized to perform surgeries at the hospital, whether the procedure bypassed required preoperative evaluations, and any irregularities in payments and missing medical records.
The Kaohsiung Department of Health said it had not received a medical dispute application from the family, but sent personnel to the hospital to investigate after learning about the incident on Saturday.
The surgical team members were all licensed medical professionals and registered in accordance with regulations, the department said.
In terms of fees, the hospital charged the patient for a “laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with intestinal bypass” and issued a receipt clearly listing the items and amounts charged, it said.
However, the surgery cost exceeded the legal standards for Kaohsiung and the department would order the excess amount to be refunded, it said.
The local prosecutors’ office is investigating whether the surgery constituted excessive treatment or medical malpractice, the department said.
If the family files a complaint or medical dispute, the department would handle the matter in accordance with the Medical Accident Prevention and Dispute Resolution Act (醫療事故預防及爭議處理法), it added.
Additional reporting by CNA
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