The recent passing of human rights lawyer and former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator-at-large candidate Chen Chun-han (陳俊翰) has sparked widespread grief across political parties and throughout Taiwan.
After the official announcement of Chen’s death, the DPP, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) all vowed to carry on his legacy of protecting the rights of people with disabilities.
Living with spinal muscular atrophy, Chen was paralyzed from the neck down for the majority of his life. Despite the adversity, his lifelong advocacy for the availability of advanced medications had successfully attracted attention from society and raised awareness.
He became renowned as the “Taiwanese Extraordinary Attorney,” a name inspired by the South Korean TV series Extraordinary Attorney Woo, due to his unrelenting efforts.
The appearance of Chen’s name on the DPP’s list of legislator-at-large candidates in November last year triggered a wide discussion. Many people afflicted with rare diseases were optimistic that his presence in the Legislative Yuan would allow their voices to be heard and enhance the overall medical situation of the country.
Chen hoped to legislate for the construction of a more exhaustive medical insurance system for these patients, contending that the government needs to thoroughly revise the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act (身心障礙者權益保障法). Unfortunately, Chen failed to enter the legislature to push for the necessary reforms.
Lawyer Chen’s dedication to advocating for better medical treatments was indeed impressive, which made some wonder why he decided to return to Taiwan when he could have been a well-paid lawyer in the US.
In response, he said that while he could have enjoyed adequate medical insurance coverage for his disease in the US, he aspired to improve the lives of more patients in similar circumstances by making use of the knowledge he had acquired abroad.
His altruistic character has ignited the hope of countless patients and prompted cross-party politicians to collaboratively propose relevant bills to fulfill the needs of these people.
The DPP, KMT and TPP immediately offered condolences to Chen’s family upon the announcement of his death on Feb. 15. The KMT lauded Chen’s ability to overcome his illness to obtain a double major in accounting and law, while the TPP highlighted its respect for his determination to fight for the rights of the disabled. Both parties also promised to foster social equality that will genuinely transcend physical differences.
Chen’s endeavors are widely acknowledged, but most people overlook the significant contribution of his mother, who had always been an unsung hero behind the scenes.
Since his diagnosis at the age of one, she had been by his side and taken exceptional care of his health in spite of his severe physical limitations. In appreciation of her unconditional love, Chen once said that he would not have topped his bar examination and been able to explore the world without her unwavering assistance.
Chen’s mother and her tenacity undoubtedly deserves more recognition for her son’s accomplishments.
Chen was truly a selfless warrior who managed to transform his weaknesses into incredible strength. With his constant perseverance and the infinite support of his mother, they have proven that it is possible to attain goals that seem beyond our capabilities. Hopefully, in this new legislative term, the three parties could set aside their differences and strive to collectively actualize his unfinished dream.
Tshua Siu-ui is a Taiwanese student studying international relations and politics in Norwich, England.
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