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Apple Daily: Playing with Lives! 17 Hospitals Employ Fake Doctors
Emergency Room Consultations for 7 Years "Truly Unethical"
http://www. cdnews. com. tw 2009-05-28 08:49:57
Compiled by Zhang Dazhi
Apple Daily's front-page news on the 28th: The Tainan District Prosecutors Office yesterday uncovered the largest unlicensed "counterfeit doctor ring" in the country! The ring, led by Hong Mingqing, a doctor at the Lanyu Township Health Center in Taitung County, dispatched over five individuals whose medical licenses had been revoked or who had graduated from university health or pharmacy programs, using forged copies of physician certificates to work as emergency room doctors at 17 small and medium-sized hospitals across seven counties and cities, including the Xinhua Branch of the Tainan Hospital under the Department of Health. These unlicensed "doctors" practiced for as long as six or seven years, affecting thousands of patients.
The highly specialized medical profession has seen the emergence of a new work model involving dispatched doctors, but this has led to the shocking scandal of "fake doctors, real consultations." The prosecutors handling the case couldn't help but condemn the hospitals and unlicensed doctors involved: "This is simply playing with lives!" A woman who had visited one of the hospitals with unlicensed doctors angrily exclaimed, "These hospitals have no medical ethics!" Ordinary citizens were also stunned upon hearing the news. Teacher Yang Meifang said, "This is outrageous—lives are at stake!" Lin Wencheng, a patient's family member, said, "Going to a larger hospital is supposed to ensure better medical care, but instead, we end up seeing fake doctors. It’s hard to know who to trust anymore." The public is strongly urging the government to conduct a thorough investigation into how many unlicensed doctors are still practicing in hospitals.
After interrogating six individuals involved, including Hong Mingqing, prosecutors yesterday sought and obtained court approval to detain five of them on charges of fraud (punishable by up to five years in prison), forgery (punishable by up to seven years), and violations of the Physician Act. Chen Boyang (30), another suspect, was released due to his cooperative attitude.
### Transferring Serious Cases Immediately
Li Jingwen, spokesperson for the Tainan District Prosecutors Office, stated that the unlicensed doctor ring led by Hong Mingqing (47) recruited Yan Ruiteng (70, with prior violations of the Physician Act), whose license had been revoked, as well as individuals like Long Qihong (40), Chen Wuhong (50), Huang Zuhe (42), and Chen Boyang (30), who had graduated from health or pharmacy programs but lacked medical licenses. The group forged copies of physician certificates through scanning and photocopying to deceive hiring hospitals, earning over NT$3 million in illegal profits.
Li Jingwen explained that Hong Mingqing graduated from Taipei Medical University 14 years ago and had worked at Kaohsiung's Yuan General Hospital, Pingtung's Ren'ai Hospital, and the Lanyu Health Center. Recognizing the shortage of doctors in regional hospitals and the reluctance of most physicians to work emergency and night shifts, Hong leveraged his connections to secure emergency room shifts at 17 hospitals across Taiwan for as little as NT$3,000 to NT$5,000 per shift, then hired unlicensed doctors to handle the consultations.
Investigators began raiding the 17 hospitals and clinics last week and discovered that the ring had been using fake doctors since 2004. Li Jingwen noted that these unlicensed doctors were only capable of basic procedures like wound cleaning and CPR. As a result, during their shifts, they only dared to handle minor injuries, colds, and medication. When faced with severe injuries or complex conditions, they would conduct a preliminary examination and immediately transfer the patient, which is why no major medical disputes had arisen.
### Hospitals Claim to Be Victims
Hospitals involved with the unlicensed doctor ring yesterday protested, saying, "We are also victims!" Liu Mingdao, deputy director of the Tainan Hospital and director of its Xinhua Branch, explained that due to staffing shortages, they had relied on Hong Mingqing, a licensed doctor, to recommend replacements. They had no idea that Yan Ruiteng, who was introduced, had his license revoked a decade ago due to a medical dispute and had forged a fake license to deceive them.Li Zhengyang, deputy director of Hongke Hospital in Shanhua Town, said that in October two years ago, he signed a contract with Hong Mingqing to cover emergency room shifts every Sunday. At the time, Hong provided only one person's license and dismissed requests for others with excuses like "it's side income, inconvenient to share." It wasn’t until investigators arrived that he learned all the substitute doctors were unlicensed.
Lin Jinxing, director of Jinxing Clinic and former legislator, stated that he hired substitutes twice while taking exams, paying 5,000 NT per three-hour shift—higher than the usual rate. He even asked them to bring certificates for photocopying, only to later discover they were forged. He considers himself a victim as well.
Patients Misdiagnosed Can Seek Compensation
Hu Shuzhen, director of the Tainan City Health Bureau, analyzed that hospitals can claim double the outpatient subsidy for each emergency patient, and hiring unlicensed doctors costs less than full-time physicians, which tempts hospital owners to take risks. However, a senior emergency doctor revealed that unlicensed doctors working in emergency rooms is an open secret in the medical field. These doctors memorize drug names for simple illnesses like colds but quickly refer complex or severe cases to other hospitals. A nurse who worked with unlicensed doctors added, "They’re very cautious. If a patient’s condition seems slightly complicated, they immediately recommend transfer."
Huang Kunzhang, a technical supervisor at the Department of Health (DOH), stated that the DOH will investigate the 17 implicated hospitals and doctors, with severe penalties for any negligence. Zhou Daojun, a section chief at the DOH’s Medical Affairs Department, explained that practicing medicine without a license violates the *Physician Act*, punishable by six months to five years in prison and fines up to 1.5 million NT. The lead doctor in this case, as an accomplice to unlicensed practice, could face license revocation if convicted. Hospitals knowingly hiring unlicensed doctors may be fined 50,000 to 500,000 NT under the *Medical Care Act*, with severe cases leading to closure. Patients harmed by misdiagnosis can also seek compensation from hospitals and unlicensed doctors.
Source: http:/ / www. cdnews. com. tw/ cdn……p? coluid=144& docid=100782490
2009-05-27 17:05:54 BCC Xu Yunxiang
A shocking case of an organized group of unlicensed doctors has emerged in Taiwan, with their illegal practice spanning across central, southern, and eastern regions. Some have even been operating for years. In response, the Department of Medical Affairs under the Department of Health stated that those without proper medical qualifications engaging in medical practices can face imprisonment and fines under the Medical Practitioners Act. Authorities will investigate whether the hospitals employing these unlicensed doctors fulfilled their due diligence. Affected patients may also seek compensation.
(Xu Yunxiang reports)
Patients seeking medical care were shocked to discover that some large hospitals employed fake doctors! A widespread unlicensed doctor ring has been uncovered, with illegal practices reported across six counties and cities in central and southern Taiwan, including Miaoli, Yunlin, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Hualien, involving up to 17 hospitals. Some unlicensed doctors have been practicing for years, and the Southern District Prosecutors Office is investigating.
Zhou Daojun, a section chief at the Department of Medical Affairs, stated that individuals without proper medical qualifications engaging in medical practices are considered unlicensed doctors. Under the Medical Practitioners Act, they can face six months to five years in prison and fines ranging from NT$300,000 to NT$1.5 million. As for the hospitals employing them, Zhou explained that hospitals should verify a doctor’s qualifications, such as national examination certificates or practice registration. The Department of Health will instruct local health bureaus to investigate whether hospitals fulfilled their due diligence. Unless the unlicensed doctors used fake credentials to deceive the hospitals, the hospitals may still be held accountable if they knowingly employed them, with the severest penalty being revocation of their operating licenses.
Some government-affiliated hospitals were also implicated in the scandal. Huang Kunzhang, a technical supervisor at the Department of Health, stated that the Hospital Management Committee and the Ethics Office will investigate and impose strict penalties if negligence is found. Patients who suspect their doctors are unlicensed can file complaints. If hospitals are found negligent, they may face civil or criminal liability, and patients can seek compensation.
Zhu Zemin, general manager of the National Health Insurance Administration, noted that medical school graduates working as resident physicians can still claim NHI reimbursements. However, non-medical graduates, such as those from biology or health sciences, are considered unlicensed doctors and cannot bill the NHI. The NHIA is reviewing claims from the implicated hospitals and may suspend reimbursements if violations are confirmed.
Source: http:/ / news. pchome. com. tw/ so……ex- 12434151541618321002. html
Fake Doctors in 17 Hospitals Endanger Lives for 7 Years!
Emergency Room Consultations for 7 Years "Truly Unethical"
http://www. cdnews. com. tw 2009-05-28 08:49:57
Compiled by Zhang Dazhi
Apple Daily's front-page news on the 28th: The Tainan District Prosecutors Office yesterday uncovered the largest unlicensed "counterfeit doctor ring" in the country! The ring, led by Hong Mingqing, a doctor at the Lanyu Township Health Center in Taitung County, dispatched over five individuals whose medical licenses had been revoked or who had graduated from university health or pharmacy programs, using forged copies of physician certificates to work as emergency room doctors at 17 small and medium-sized hospitals across seven counties and cities, including the Xinhua Branch of the Tainan Hospital under the Department of Health. These unlicensed "doctors" practiced for as long as six or seven years, affecting thousands of patients.
The highly specialized medical profession has seen the emergence of a new work model involving dispatched doctors, but this has led to the shocking scandal of "fake doctors, real consultations." The prosecutors handling the case couldn't help but condemn the hospitals and unlicensed doctors involved: "This is simply playing with lives!" A woman who had visited one of the hospitals with unlicensed doctors angrily exclaimed, "These hospitals have no medical ethics!" Ordinary citizens were also stunned upon hearing the news. Teacher Yang Meifang said, "This is outrageous—lives are at stake!" Lin Wencheng, a patient's family member, said, "Going to a larger hospital is supposed to ensure better medical care, but instead, we end up seeing fake doctors. It’s hard to know who to trust anymore." The public is strongly urging the government to conduct a thorough investigation into how many unlicensed doctors are still practicing in hospitals.
After interrogating six individuals involved, including Hong Mingqing, prosecutors yesterday sought and obtained court approval to detain five of them on charges of fraud (punishable by up to five years in prison), forgery (punishable by up to seven years), and violations of the Physician Act. Chen Boyang (30), another suspect, was released due to his cooperative attitude.
### Transferring Serious Cases Immediately
Li Jingwen, spokesperson for the Tainan District Prosecutors Office, stated that the unlicensed doctor ring led by Hong Mingqing (47) recruited Yan Ruiteng (70, with prior violations of the Physician Act), whose license had been revoked, as well as individuals like Long Qihong (40), Chen Wuhong (50), Huang Zuhe (42), and Chen Boyang (30), who had graduated from health or pharmacy programs but lacked medical licenses. The group forged copies of physician certificates through scanning and photocopying to deceive hiring hospitals, earning over NT$3 million in illegal profits.
Li Jingwen explained that Hong Mingqing graduated from Taipei Medical University 14 years ago and had worked at Kaohsiung's Yuan General Hospital, Pingtung's Ren'ai Hospital, and the Lanyu Health Center. Recognizing the shortage of doctors in regional hospitals and the reluctance of most physicians to work emergency and night shifts, Hong leveraged his connections to secure emergency room shifts at 17 hospitals across Taiwan for as little as NT$3,000 to NT$5,000 per shift, then hired unlicensed doctors to handle the consultations.
Investigators began raiding the 17 hospitals and clinics last week and discovered that the ring had been using fake doctors since 2004. Li Jingwen noted that these unlicensed doctors were only capable of basic procedures like wound cleaning and CPR. As a result, during their shifts, they only dared to handle minor injuries, colds, and medication. When faced with severe injuries or complex conditions, they would conduct a preliminary examination and immediately transfer the patient, which is why no major medical disputes had arisen.
### Hospitals Claim to Be Victims
Hospitals involved with the unlicensed doctor ring yesterday protested, saying, "We are also victims!" Liu Mingdao, deputy director of the Tainan Hospital and director of its Xinhua Branch, explained that due to staffing shortages, they had relied on Hong Mingqing, a licensed doctor, to recommend replacements. They had no idea that Yan Ruiteng, who was introduced, had his license revoked a decade ago due to a medical dispute and had forged a fake license to deceive them.Li Zhengyang, deputy director of Hongke Hospital in Shanhua Town, said that in October two years ago, he signed a contract with Hong Mingqing to cover emergency room shifts every Sunday. At the time, Hong provided only one person's license and dismissed requests for others with excuses like "it's side income, inconvenient to share." It wasn’t until investigators arrived that he learned all the substitute doctors were unlicensed.
Lin Jinxing, director of Jinxing Clinic and former legislator, stated that he hired substitutes twice while taking exams, paying 5,000 NT per three-hour shift—higher than the usual rate. He even asked them to bring certificates for photocopying, only to later discover they were forged. He considers himself a victim as well.
Patients Misdiagnosed Can Seek Compensation
Hu Shuzhen, director of the Tainan City Health Bureau, analyzed that hospitals can claim double the outpatient subsidy for each emergency patient, and hiring unlicensed doctors costs less than full-time physicians, which tempts hospital owners to take risks. However, a senior emergency doctor revealed that unlicensed doctors working in emergency rooms is an open secret in the medical field. These doctors memorize drug names for simple illnesses like colds but quickly refer complex or severe cases to other hospitals. A nurse who worked with unlicensed doctors added, "They’re very cautious. If a patient’s condition seems slightly complicated, they immediately recommend transfer."
Huang Kunzhang, a technical supervisor at the Department of Health (DOH), stated that the DOH will investigate the 17 implicated hospitals and doctors, with severe penalties for any negligence. Zhou Daojun, a section chief at the DOH’s Medical Affairs Department, explained that practicing medicine without a license violates the *Physician Act*, punishable by six months to five years in prison and fines up to 1.5 million NT. The lead doctor in this case, as an accomplice to unlicensed practice, could face license revocation if convicted. Hospitals knowingly hiring unlicensed doctors may be fined 50,000 to 500,000 NT under the *Medical Care Act*, with severe cases leading to closure. Patients harmed by misdiagnosis can also seek compensation from hospitals and unlicensed doctors.
Source: http:/ / www. cdnews. com. tw/ cdn……p? coluid=144& docid=100782490
Fake Doctors in Big Hospitals? Health Dept: Jail Time and Compensation Possible
A shocking case of an organized group of unlicensed doctors has emerged in Taiwan, with their illegal practice spanning across central, southern, and eastern regions. Some have even been operating for years. In response, the Department of Medical Affairs under the Department of Health stated that those without proper medical qualifications engaging in medical practices can face imprisonment and fines under the Medical Practitioners Act. Authorities will investigate whether the hospitals employing these unlicensed doctors fulfilled their due diligence. Affected patients may also seek compensation.
(Xu Yunxiang reports)
Patients seeking medical care were shocked to discover that some large hospitals employed fake doctors! A widespread unlicensed doctor ring has been uncovered, with illegal practices reported across six counties and cities in central and southern Taiwan, including Miaoli, Yunlin, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Hualien, involving up to 17 hospitals. Some unlicensed doctors have been practicing for years, and the Southern District Prosecutors Office is investigating.
Zhou Daojun, a section chief at the Department of Medical Affairs, stated that individuals without proper medical qualifications engaging in medical practices are considered unlicensed doctors. Under the Medical Practitioners Act, they can face six months to five years in prison and fines ranging from NT$300,000 to NT$1.5 million. As for the hospitals employing them, Zhou explained that hospitals should verify a doctor’s qualifications, such as national examination certificates or practice registration. The Department of Health will instruct local health bureaus to investigate whether hospitals fulfilled their due diligence. Unless the unlicensed doctors used fake credentials to deceive the hospitals, the hospitals may still be held accountable if they knowingly employed them, with the severest penalty being revocation of their operating licenses.
Some government-affiliated hospitals were also implicated in the scandal. Huang Kunzhang, a technical supervisor at the Department of Health, stated that the Hospital Management Committee and the Ethics Office will investigate and impose strict penalties if negligence is found. Patients who suspect their doctors are unlicensed can file complaints. If hospitals are found negligent, they may face civil or criminal liability, and patients can seek compensation.
Zhu Zemin, general manager of the National Health Insurance Administration, noted that medical school graduates working as resident physicians can still claim NHI reimbursements. However, non-medical graduates, such as those from biology or health sciences, are considered unlicensed doctors and cannot bill the NHI. The NHIA is reviewing claims from the implicated hospitals and may suspend reimbursements if violations are confirmed.
Source: http:/ / news. pchome. com. tw/ so……ex- 12434151541618321002. html