Clipping Board » Medical Myths ─ The truth about healthcare is often different from what you intuitively think.
Min Sheng Daily, January 5, 1998, Medical News Section
Victim
Typed by Dr. Zheng Weili, Internal Medicine Specialist
The author has suffered from chronic rhinitis for many years. A month ago, upon the enthusiastic recommendation of a relative, I visited a certain traditional Chinese medicine clinic. It was said that Dr. Zhang, who holds an "Honorary Doctorate in Medicine from the United States," claimed to be able to cure the condition in one session.
It was a Sunday, and the clinic was packed. Initially skeptical of a one-time cure, the sight of so many patients piqued my curiosity. I picked up a flyer to study it, which explained a specially developed medical method that causes the swollen nasal mucosa to shed, combined with traditional Chinese medicine to adjust the body's constitution. The cost for the special treatment plus the Chinese medicine was 10,000 NT dollars per nostril. If not cured within a month, one would continue taking the medicine at a cost of 100 NT dollars per day, with a cure rate as high as 90%. At the time, I thought the cost was too high, and I was concerned about potential side effects from this direct intervention on nasal tissue. I intended to leave, but my mother insisted on trying it, so I registered. The nurse immediately demanded 10,000 NT dollars, but since I only had 5,000 NT dollars on me, I could only afford treatment for one nostril.
Upon entering the treatment room, patients were seated in rows in a small room. The nurse called out names, and the doctor took each patient's pulse and inquired about their condition. Soon, I heard a patient ask the doctor why someone outside the clinic had said the treatment didn't work. The doctor replied, "Today, someone came here just to cause trouble!" Later, a mother brought her child in for treatment. The child cried incessantly, and the mother forced him to stay. The child kept screaming, "I don't want to come here again!" It was chilling to hear. I asked a nearby patient if she had been here before and what treatment she received. She said she had been referred two months ago. The treatment involved applying a medicinal agent into the nasal cavity, which was indeed painful, and she felt much better afterward, though not completely cured. She had been coming back for nearly three months, and recently, her symptoms had recurred, so she returned. I calculated that she had spent nearly 20,000 NT dollars. The doctor then prescribed another month's worth of medicine for her before she left.
When it was my turn, the doctor took my pulse, asked about my condition, and wrote a prescription, instructing me to go to the next room for treatment—all in less than half a minute. In the other treatment room, patients were again seated in rows, receiving treatment. Four or five nurses moved about, seemingly untrained, as patients shed tears and mucus. Packets of tissues were placed beside the seats, and used tissues were thrown into a large trash bin in the middle, which was nearly overflowing. The nurse first applied a "Little Nurse"-like ointment to my nasal cavity with a cotton swab, then inserted a popsicle stick-like object coated with a green medicinal agent into my nose. The pain was immediate and intense, with tears streaming down my face. Even the side of my nose, cheek, and gums ached unbearably. After enduring this for six minutes, the stick was removed, and the nurse instructed me to blow my nose. The mucus was thick and copious, resembling that of a severe cold. After applying more medicine, I left.
After returning home, the pain persisted, and my nose remained congested for nearly a week. Feeling uneasy about this crude and brutal treatment, I called to inquire. The nurse said it was normal and that even my gums hurting during the treatment was because "patients with bad teeth also have this reaction," which was laughable. Anyone with a bit of common sense would know it was due to connected nerves causing discomfort. Two weeks later, the nasal mucosa did shed, but my nose began to accumulate pus and bleed, emitting a foul odor. The mucus became thick and yellowish, something I had never experienced before the treatment. I subsequently sought treatment at Taipei Medical College and National Taiwan University Hospital.Doctors have long heard of this famous physician and have also mentioned that patients they have seen often end up being referred to larger hospitals. They pointed out that this treatment method involves using a medication containing a cauterizing agent to shed the swollen nasal mucosa. Without anesthesia, this process can be extremely painful. While short-term improvements may be visible, over time, the nasal mucosa regenerates and continues to swell, leading to a recurrence of the condition, making it difficult to cure. The author, however, experienced an infection due to the surgery, along with ulceration and scabbing of the nasal mucosa, leading to a prolonged recovery that required continuous treatment. Doctors noted that this is not the worst-case scenario; more severe cases involve improper surgery that burns tissues beyond the nasal mucosa, such as the nasal septum, and there have even been instances where this has caused the two to adhere and the nasal wings to collapse. Hearing this, one can't help but feel indignant. Due to extensive advertising and high consultation fees, the general public mistakenly believes that a big name guarantees effectiveness. Coupled with the fact that some patients do see short-term improvements, patients keep coming in droves, even to the extent of groups from central and southern Taiwan chartering buses to seek consultations in the north, resembling the fervor of a religious movement.
How many people in Taiwan suffer from chronic nasal diseases? How many doctors claim guaranteed cures and charge exorbitant fees? It's unfortunate enough to be sick, but it's even more detestable when unscrupulous doctors exploit this to make money, even worsening the condition. The public should not only judge carefully but also bravely expose these malpractices to prevent more innocent patients from being harmed.
※The first local clinical treatment guidelines for rhinitis have been released.
Min Sheng Daily, 1998/01/05, Medical News
Reporter: Jianfu Zhan
Typed by Internal Medicine Specialist: Weili Zheng
With the increasing number of nasal disease patients in the country, the Otolaryngology Society has compiled a specialized booklet and health education manual to provide the public with accurate medical information and treatment guidelines for rhinitis, and to remind patients not to believe in exaggerated and false "guaranteed cure" advertisements for nasal diseases.
Due to Taiwan's humid and variable climate, coupled with severe environmental pollution, the number of rhinitis patients has been increasing year by year. On average, one out of every three school children suffers from allergic rhinitis, leading many patients to seek folk remedies or traditional Chinese medicine local cauterization therapies. In response, the Otolaryngology Society of the Republic of China yesterday released the first "Clinical Treatment Guidelines for Rhinitis in Taiwan" and a "Health Education Manual," and urged the Department of Health to strengthen the crackdown on exaggerated and false "guaranteed cure" advertisements for nasal diseases to prevent patients from being repeatedly deceived.
Lin Qingrong, head of the Nasal and Neck Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, pointed out at a seminar yesterday that there have been continuous advertisements from Chinese medicine clinics claiming to treat nasal diseases in five minutes, painlessly and without bleeding, and with no side effects. These treatments, known as "Nasal Music Therapy," "Nasal Health Method," "Nasal Purification Therapy," and "Nasal Tuberculosis Therapy," use corrosive drugs such as Ku Fan San or toad venom, formulated into ointments or liquids, which are then applied to the nasal cavity with a cotton swab. Many patients not only fail to see any therapeutic effect but also suffer adverse consequences.
For example, at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, in the past year alone, 25 patients have experienced nasal pain, nosebleeds, necrosis of the nasal mucosa, loss of smell, perforation of the nasal septum, and even narrowing of the nostrils and collapse of the nasal wings due to excessive cauterization. Lin Qingrong mentioned that among these patients, one family of three was affected simultaneously, with the youngest being only seven years old. Li Daren, director of the Otolaryngology Department at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, also said that he encountered a young patient whose nasal wing on one side completely collapsed, drastically altering their appearance, and even plastic surgery could not fully restore their original appearance.
Similar cases, where patients suffer permanent damage to their nasal cavities due to corrosive drugs after believing in "guaranteed cure" or "no surgery required" advertisements on cable TV or flyers distributed in the community, not only harm the patients but also present otolaryngologists with some of the most challenging "messy situations" that are often difficult to resolve. Xu Maoming, former president of the Otolaryngology Society and professor at the National Taiwan University College of Medicine, pointed out that at the society's annual meeting in Kaohsiung last November, many members loudly called for the Department of Health to no longer turn a blind eye to these issues.A physician also stated that some businesses promote themselves under the guise of traditional Chinese medicine or medical doctors, backed by political representatives or underworld forces, leaving many victimized patients with no recourse for compensation.
Xu Maoming mentioned that nasal diseases are extremely common among the domestic population, with most patients taking them for granted. Notably, according to a survey by National Taiwan University Hospital, allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic disease in pediatrics. Moreover, the number of patients has been skyrocketing in recent years, with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis among school children increasing from 7.8% to 33.5% between 1985 and 1994. Additionally, among the over one million asthma patients in the country, 50% to 70% also suffer from allergic rhinitis. Lin Rong also noted that, for example, at Taipei Veterans General Hospital's Department of Otolaryngology, more than one-third of the initial nasal disease patients are diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, and about 60% of these patients are under 20 years old.
As the number of nasal disease patients continues to rise, providing accurate medical information and treatment guidelines has become increasingly urgent. To this end, a group of domestic otolaryngologists has introduced global trends in rhinitis treatment and integrated domestic treatment concepts to compile the first "Clinical Guidelines for Rhinitis in Taiwan" and an "Educational Handbook." Wang Xingwan, director of the Otolaryngology Department at Tri-Service General Hospital, who participated in the compilation, stated that these guidelines not only focus on the differences between domestic and international rhinitis but also unify the definitions, classifications, diagnoses, and treatment methods for rhinitis among the population (for example, the use of steroid sprays for local treatment, which is effective and safe, represents an important treatment concept). Additionally, the guidelines compare the treatment methods of Chinese and Western medicine for rhinitis, allowing doctors and patients to learn from each other's strengths.
Furthermore, the "Rhinitis Educational Handbook" uses simple and vivid illustrations to help patients understand the causes of the disease and how to avoid allergens, thereby reducing the inconvenience caused by rhinitis through cooperation with doctors. The handbook is available for free, with each copy requiring a return postage of NT$15, sent to the 7th floor, Siyuan Building, No. 201, Section 2, Shipai Road, Taipei City, addressed to the Chinese Society of Otolaryngology.
Editor's Note: To assist more people in obtaining accurate health information, Astra Pharmaceuticals has authorized the Health World e-newsletter to reprint the "Taiwan Rhinitis Educational Handbook" in the 24th issue of the e-newsletter. http://www.health.nsysu.edu.tw/024-20.htm
※Hotline Follow-up: The High Cost of Health for Nasal Cautery in Treating Nasal Diseases
The Taipei City Health Bureau and the Consumers' Foundation have accepted complaints from affected patients. Some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have accumulated fines of up to NT$700,000 but continue their practices. The Consumers' Foundation calls for government intervention.
Min Sheng Daily Medical News, 1998/01/07, News Section
Reporters: Tang Jiangong, Lin Jiajia
Typed by Internal Medicine Specialist Zheng Weili
Following the exposure by the domestic otolaryngology community of several cases of complications arising from the use of "nasal cautery" by some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, complaints from patients have been emerging over the past two days. The Taipei City Health Bureau and the Consumers' Foundation, in the interest of protecting patient rights, have decided to accept complaints from affected patients. The Consumers' Foundation pointed out that health authorities should proactively investigate the efficacy and safety of nasal cautery rather than adopting an ostrich approach to public medical issues.
Lin Qingrong, director of the Department of Otolaryngology at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, stated yesterday that the recent media reports on traditional Chinese medicine practitioners using corrosive drugs to treat nasal diseases, resulting in infections, nasal septum perforations, and even nasal collapse, have left many people incredulous. For example, many veterans treated at the hospital ended up spending money and harming their health, leading to numerous complaints to the Veterans Affairs Commission, demanding justice.
The Taipei City Health Bureau also stated that it has long received complaints from nasal disease patients about certain traditional Chinese medicine practitioners using nasal cautery. However, investigations revealed that some practitioners performing this traditional therapy are licensed, so the bureau can only crack down on illegal advertising by these doctors.According to officials, taking a certain traditional Chinese medicine practitioner as an example, the bureau has accumulated fines totaling NT$700,000 so far, but the practitioner remains unchanged. In response, the health bureau has decided to accept complaints from affected citizens. Once patients experience sequelae of tissue damage, the bureau is willing to mediate. The complaint hotline for the third section of the health bureau is (02)27287102.
However, a supervisor from the Consumer Foundation's public complaint department pointed out that although some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners strongly claim that the efficacy of this nasal cauterization procedure is better than Western medicine, and there are cases of successful treatment, this corrosive treatment method may still be dangerous. Moreover, some Chinese medicine clinics employ individuals without medical qualifications to apply medication to patients. Health authorities cannot sit idly by and allow such unlicensed medical practices to continue. She emphasized that the Department of Health or the health bureau should actively investigate the practices of such Chinese medicine clinics. If experts recommend a ban, it should be proactively announced to the public to prevent patients from continuing to be deceived and harmed.
The Consumer Foundation stated that it has always been committed to protecting consumer rights, and thus will strive to advocate for the public's medical rights. If anyone has experienced sequelae from undergoing nasal cauterization treatment in Chinese medicine, the foundation is willing to accept written complaints and will request the Department of Health or the health bureau to intervene with public authority. The address of the Consumer Foundation is 10F-2, No. 390, Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Taipei City.
Medical World's Song Qili
Victim
Typed by Dr. Zheng Weili, Internal Medicine Specialist
The author has suffered from chronic rhinitis for many years. A month ago, upon the enthusiastic recommendation of a relative, I visited a certain traditional Chinese medicine clinic. It was said that Dr. Zhang, who holds an "Honorary Doctorate in Medicine from the United States," claimed to be able to cure the condition in one session.
It was a Sunday, and the clinic was packed. Initially skeptical of a one-time cure, the sight of so many patients piqued my curiosity. I picked up a flyer to study it, which explained a specially developed medical method that causes the swollen nasal mucosa to shed, combined with traditional Chinese medicine to adjust the body's constitution. The cost for the special treatment plus the Chinese medicine was 10,000 NT dollars per nostril. If not cured within a month, one would continue taking the medicine at a cost of 100 NT dollars per day, with a cure rate as high as 90%. At the time, I thought the cost was too high, and I was concerned about potential side effects from this direct intervention on nasal tissue. I intended to leave, but my mother insisted on trying it, so I registered. The nurse immediately demanded 10,000 NT dollars, but since I only had 5,000 NT dollars on me, I could only afford treatment for one nostril.
Upon entering the treatment room, patients were seated in rows in a small room. The nurse called out names, and the doctor took each patient's pulse and inquired about their condition. Soon, I heard a patient ask the doctor why someone outside the clinic had said the treatment didn't work. The doctor replied, "Today, someone came here just to cause trouble!" Later, a mother brought her child in for treatment. The child cried incessantly, and the mother forced him to stay. The child kept screaming, "I don't want to come here again!" It was chilling to hear. I asked a nearby patient if she had been here before and what treatment she received. She said she had been referred two months ago. The treatment involved applying a medicinal agent into the nasal cavity, which was indeed painful, and she felt much better afterward, though not completely cured. She had been coming back for nearly three months, and recently, her symptoms had recurred, so she returned. I calculated that she had spent nearly 20,000 NT dollars. The doctor then prescribed another month's worth of medicine for her before she left.
When it was my turn, the doctor took my pulse, asked about my condition, and wrote a prescription, instructing me to go to the next room for treatment—all in less than half a minute. In the other treatment room, patients were again seated in rows, receiving treatment. Four or five nurses moved about, seemingly untrained, as patients shed tears and mucus. Packets of tissues were placed beside the seats, and used tissues were thrown into a large trash bin in the middle, which was nearly overflowing. The nurse first applied a "Little Nurse"-like ointment to my nasal cavity with a cotton swab, then inserted a popsicle stick-like object coated with a green medicinal agent into my nose. The pain was immediate and intense, with tears streaming down my face. Even the side of my nose, cheek, and gums ached unbearably. After enduring this for six minutes, the stick was removed, and the nurse instructed me to blow my nose. The mucus was thick and copious, resembling that of a severe cold. After applying more medicine, I left.
After returning home, the pain persisted, and my nose remained congested for nearly a week. Feeling uneasy about this crude and brutal treatment, I called to inquire. The nurse said it was normal and that even my gums hurting during the treatment was because "patients with bad teeth also have this reaction," which was laughable. Anyone with a bit of common sense would know it was due to connected nerves causing discomfort. Two weeks later, the nasal mucosa did shed, but my nose began to accumulate pus and bleed, emitting a foul odor. The mucus became thick and yellowish, something I had never experienced before the treatment. I subsequently sought treatment at Taipei Medical College and National Taiwan University Hospital.Doctors have long heard of this famous physician and have also mentioned that patients they have seen often end up being referred to larger hospitals. They pointed out that this treatment method involves using a medication containing a cauterizing agent to shed the swollen nasal mucosa. Without anesthesia, this process can be extremely painful. While short-term improvements may be visible, over time, the nasal mucosa regenerates and continues to swell, leading to a recurrence of the condition, making it difficult to cure. The author, however, experienced an infection due to the surgery, along with ulceration and scabbing of the nasal mucosa, leading to a prolonged recovery that required continuous treatment. Doctors noted that this is not the worst-case scenario; more severe cases involve improper surgery that burns tissues beyond the nasal mucosa, such as the nasal septum, and there have even been instances where this has caused the two to adhere and the nasal wings to collapse. Hearing this, one can't help but feel indignant. Due to extensive advertising and high consultation fees, the general public mistakenly believes that a big name guarantees effectiveness. Coupled with the fact that some patients do see short-term improvements, patients keep coming in droves, even to the extent of groups from central and southern Taiwan chartering buses to seek consultations in the north, resembling the fervor of a religious movement.
How many people in Taiwan suffer from chronic nasal diseases? How many doctors claim guaranteed cures and charge exorbitant fees? It's unfortunate enough to be sick, but it's even more detestable when unscrupulous doctors exploit this to make money, even worsening the condition. The public should not only judge carefully but also bravely expose these malpractices to prevent more innocent patients from being harmed.
※The first local clinical treatment guidelines for rhinitis have been released.
Min Sheng Daily, 1998/01/05, Medical News
Reporter: Jianfu Zhan
Typed by Internal Medicine Specialist: Weili Zheng
With the increasing number of nasal disease patients in the country, the Otolaryngology Society has compiled a specialized booklet and health education manual to provide the public with accurate medical information and treatment guidelines for rhinitis, and to remind patients not to believe in exaggerated and false "guaranteed cure" advertisements for nasal diseases.
Due to Taiwan's humid and variable climate, coupled with severe environmental pollution, the number of rhinitis patients has been increasing year by year. On average, one out of every three school children suffers from allergic rhinitis, leading many patients to seek folk remedies or traditional Chinese medicine local cauterization therapies. In response, the Otolaryngology Society of the Republic of China yesterday released the first "Clinical Treatment Guidelines for Rhinitis in Taiwan" and a "Health Education Manual," and urged the Department of Health to strengthen the crackdown on exaggerated and false "guaranteed cure" advertisements for nasal diseases to prevent patients from being repeatedly deceived.
Lin Qingrong, head of the Nasal and Neck Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, pointed out at a seminar yesterday that there have been continuous advertisements from Chinese medicine clinics claiming to treat nasal diseases in five minutes, painlessly and without bleeding, and with no side effects. These treatments, known as "Nasal Music Therapy," "Nasal Health Method," "Nasal Purification Therapy," and "Nasal Tuberculosis Therapy," use corrosive drugs such as Ku Fan San or toad venom, formulated into ointments or liquids, which are then applied to the nasal cavity with a cotton swab. Many patients not only fail to see any therapeutic effect but also suffer adverse consequences.
For example, at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, in the past year alone, 25 patients have experienced nasal pain, nosebleeds, necrosis of the nasal mucosa, loss of smell, perforation of the nasal septum, and even narrowing of the nostrils and collapse of the nasal wings due to excessive cauterization. Lin Qingrong mentioned that among these patients, one family of three was affected simultaneously, with the youngest being only seven years old. Li Daren, director of the Otolaryngology Department at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, also said that he encountered a young patient whose nasal wing on one side completely collapsed, drastically altering their appearance, and even plastic surgery could not fully restore their original appearance.
Similar cases, where patients suffer permanent damage to their nasal cavities due to corrosive drugs after believing in "guaranteed cure" or "no surgery required" advertisements on cable TV or flyers distributed in the community, not only harm the patients but also present otolaryngologists with some of the most challenging "messy situations" that are often difficult to resolve. Xu Maoming, former president of the Otolaryngology Society and professor at the National Taiwan University College of Medicine, pointed out that at the society's annual meeting in Kaohsiung last November, many members loudly called for the Department of Health to no longer turn a blind eye to these issues.A physician also stated that some businesses promote themselves under the guise of traditional Chinese medicine or medical doctors, backed by political representatives or underworld forces, leaving many victimized patients with no recourse for compensation.
Xu Maoming mentioned that nasal diseases are extremely common among the domestic population, with most patients taking them for granted. Notably, according to a survey by National Taiwan University Hospital, allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic disease in pediatrics. Moreover, the number of patients has been skyrocketing in recent years, with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis among school children increasing from 7.8% to 33.5% between 1985 and 1994. Additionally, among the over one million asthma patients in the country, 50% to 70% also suffer from allergic rhinitis. Lin Rong also noted that, for example, at Taipei Veterans General Hospital's Department of Otolaryngology, more than one-third of the initial nasal disease patients are diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, and about 60% of these patients are under 20 years old.
As the number of nasal disease patients continues to rise, providing accurate medical information and treatment guidelines has become increasingly urgent. To this end, a group of domestic otolaryngologists has introduced global trends in rhinitis treatment and integrated domestic treatment concepts to compile the first "Clinical Guidelines for Rhinitis in Taiwan" and an "Educational Handbook." Wang Xingwan, director of the Otolaryngology Department at Tri-Service General Hospital, who participated in the compilation, stated that these guidelines not only focus on the differences between domestic and international rhinitis but also unify the definitions, classifications, diagnoses, and treatment methods for rhinitis among the population (for example, the use of steroid sprays for local treatment, which is effective and safe, represents an important treatment concept). Additionally, the guidelines compare the treatment methods of Chinese and Western medicine for rhinitis, allowing doctors and patients to learn from each other's strengths.
Furthermore, the "Rhinitis Educational Handbook" uses simple and vivid illustrations to help patients understand the causes of the disease and how to avoid allergens, thereby reducing the inconvenience caused by rhinitis through cooperation with doctors. The handbook is available for free, with each copy requiring a return postage of NT$15, sent to the 7th floor, Siyuan Building, No. 201, Section 2, Shipai Road, Taipei City, addressed to the Chinese Society of Otolaryngology.
Editor's Note: To assist more people in obtaining accurate health information, Astra Pharmaceuticals has authorized the Health World e-newsletter to reprint the "Taiwan Rhinitis Educational Handbook" in the 24th issue of the e-newsletter. http://www.health.nsysu.edu.tw/024-20.htm
※Hotline Follow-up: The High Cost of Health for Nasal Cautery in Treating Nasal Diseases
The Taipei City Health Bureau and the Consumers' Foundation have accepted complaints from affected patients. Some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have accumulated fines of up to NT$700,000 but continue their practices. The Consumers' Foundation calls for government intervention.
Min Sheng Daily Medical News, 1998/01/07, News Section
Reporters: Tang Jiangong, Lin Jiajia
Typed by Internal Medicine Specialist Zheng Weili
Following the exposure by the domestic otolaryngology community of several cases of complications arising from the use of "nasal cautery" by some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, complaints from patients have been emerging over the past two days. The Taipei City Health Bureau and the Consumers' Foundation, in the interest of protecting patient rights, have decided to accept complaints from affected patients. The Consumers' Foundation pointed out that health authorities should proactively investigate the efficacy and safety of nasal cautery rather than adopting an ostrich approach to public medical issues.
Lin Qingrong, director of the Department of Otolaryngology at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, stated yesterday that the recent media reports on traditional Chinese medicine practitioners using corrosive drugs to treat nasal diseases, resulting in infections, nasal septum perforations, and even nasal collapse, have left many people incredulous. For example, many veterans treated at the hospital ended up spending money and harming their health, leading to numerous complaints to the Veterans Affairs Commission, demanding justice.
The Taipei City Health Bureau also stated that it has long received complaints from nasal disease patients about certain traditional Chinese medicine practitioners using nasal cautery. However, investigations revealed that some practitioners performing this traditional therapy are licensed, so the bureau can only crack down on illegal advertising by these doctors.According to officials, taking a certain traditional Chinese medicine practitioner as an example, the bureau has accumulated fines totaling NT$700,000 so far, but the practitioner remains unchanged. In response, the health bureau has decided to accept complaints from affected citizens. Once patients experience sequelae of tissue damage, the bureau is willing to mediate. The complaint hotline for the third section of the health bureau is (02)27287102.
However, a supervisor from the Consumer Foundation's public complaint department pointed out that although some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners strongly claim that the efficacy of this nasal cauterization procedure is better than Western medicine, and there are cases of successful treatment, this corrosive treatment method may still be dangerous. Moreover, some Chinese medicine clinics employ individuals without medical qualifications to apply medication to patients. Health authorities cannot sit idly by and allow such unlicensed medical practices to continue. She emphasized that the Department of Health or the health bureau should actively investigate the practices of such Chinese medicine clinics. If experts recommend a ban, it should be proactively announced to the public to prevent patients from continuing to be deceived and harmed.
The Consumer Foundation stated that it has always been committed to protecting consumer rights, and thus will strive to advocate for the public's medical rights. If anyone has experienced sequelae from undergoing nasal cauterization treatment in Chinese medicine, the foundation is willing to accept written complaints and will request the Department of Health or the health bureau to intervene with public authority. The address of the Consumer Foundation is 10F-2, No. 390, Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Taipei City.