The secret installation of surveillance cameras in consultation and treatment rooms is a common practice across Taiwan’s aesthetic medical industry to guard against medical disputes and employee theft, an industry insider said yesterday amid a probe into the Airlee Inc (愛爾麗) clinic group.
After receiving a complaint about a suspected surveillance camera disguised as a smoke detector at an Airlee branch in New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋), investigators have found evidence of multiple cameras set up in Airlee clinics across the nation.
Owners of the systems would be able to connect to them through their cellphones and surveil the clinic in real time, the source said.
Photo: CNA
They said police were surprised to learn that installing surveillance systems in clinics was a well-known industry practice.
Aesthetic clinic owners have told the police in private that installing surveillance cameras on the premises is an act of self-protection.
The cameras allow owners to know if doctors made a mistake at the time of diagnosis or surgery, and give the clinic some leeway to protect themselves, owners said.
Another reason that cameras are so prevalent is to prevent employees from stealing equipment or drugs, they said.
In the Airlee case, the New Taipei District Court on Thursday approved prosecutors’ request to detain three people involved with the chain.
The court ruled that Airlee chairman Chang Ju-shan (常如山), a special assistant surnamed Chang (張) and a supplier surnamed Hsieh (謝) should be detained and held incommunicado.
A fourth suspect, a general manager surnamed Liu (劉), was released on bail of NT$5 million (US$159,089), and restricted from overseas travel, prosecutors said.
The suspects may have contravened laws on privacy, as well as the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act (兒童及少年性剝削防制條例) by filming customers without their consent.
Some clients of Airlee’s Banciao branch formed a self-help group and on Thursday gathered outside the clinic to negotiate refund terms and compensation procedures.
Customers seeking refunds have to apply online and visit the clinic in person with documentation for verification, Airlee wrote on Facebook,.
Refunds would apply only to unused treatment sessions, with no deductions for complimentary items and no administrative fees charged, it said.
In another case yesterday, New Taipei City prosecutors and police visited Dr. Shine branches in Banciao and Taipei’s Zhongshan District (中山), after the aesthetic medical clinic was also reported to have installed surveillance systems.
If clinics are found to have breached Article 72 of the Medical Care Act (醫療法) — leaking patients’ information on their health or symptoms without due cause — they could be fined a maximum of NT$250,000.
If they are a medical professional, their license could be revoked, and the clinic could be fined an additional NT$250,000 for contravening Article 57 of the act.
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,
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