Former Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital superintendent Wu Kang-wen (
Wu and Lin were summoned by Taipei Chief Prosecutor Chen Tai-wei (
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
Wu was removed from his post earlier this month and Lin was fined NT$90,000 by the Taipei City Bureau of Health for delaying the reporting of possible SARS cases.
The Taipei City Government said it stands by its decision to fine three Hoping Hospital doctors, Lin, Chang Yu-tai (
"According to the Communicable Disease Prevention Law (傳染病防治法) Article 29, a doctor must report patients suspected of carrying a statutory communicable diseases to the health authority within 24 hours," said Chen Ching-hsiu (陳清秀), director-general of the Law and Regulation Commission.
"The delayed report sheets we have are clearly signed by the doctors."
According to Chen, all three doctors were a day late in reporting.
Chang claims he signed all three report sheets on behalf of his colleagues.
"If what Chang says about him signing for others is true then we may be looking at a case of forgery, which would entail a more serious consequence," Chen said.
Chen also said that a doctor should not just report cases to other administrative departments within the hospital or ask colleagues to handle them but should ensure they are reported to the authorities as soon as possible.
Chen said that a doctor who broke the law could be fined between NT$90,000 to NT$450,000.
"Unless the doctors can provide concrete evidence of their innocence, our decision to fine them will stand," Chen said.
All three doctors were invited to offer evidence against the allegations two days ago but, according to the Taipei City Government, could not offer any written proof to collaborate their stories.
"The doctors should report any suspected cases," said Wu Wen-hao (
"Many doctors simply do not understand the law. They should be more careful, and should not sign documents if they are not directly responsible," Wu said.
Chang will hold a press conference today to offer his side of the story.
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