Dispute arises over treatment－q19821209

Dispute arises over treatment
of patients by trainees

"Patients at Taipei hospitals are commonly treated by unlicensed medical personnel," a Taipei City Councilor alleged. The daughter of President Chen, dentist Chen Hsin-yu, herself carried out examinations as a qualified intern, according to a councilor.

Chen, who works at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, qualified September 15 but videotape recorded by the press on August 1 shows her washing patients' teeth without supervision, Councilor Lee Ching-yuan reported. Trainees are legally barred from treating patients without the direct supervision of a licensed doctor, said the councilor.

Chen Yu-ming at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's President Office told the reporter that Lee had misinterpreted the tape. Doctors didn't appear on the recording because they made space to allow reporters to take pictures, Chen said. "We definitely had licensed doctors accompanying her while checking patients," said the hospital."

Lee also criticized 13 of 23 doctors at Wang-Fang Hospital are not qualified and patients have trouble distinguishing them. Wang-Fang Hospital's secretary Li Tung-lung told the reporter he needed time to check Councilor Lee's allegation but said it's impossible for unlicensed doctors to diagnose patients in the hospital."

"We won't let interns to take the risk or take the responsibility," Li said. Li said all staffs have their names on their coat and also carry ID cards. A spokesperson for Mackay Memorial Hospital, surnamed Chan, told the reporter that interns there might make initial checks on patients and then report their findings to doctors. Later, doctors would double check patients again.

"It's also a learning experience in teaching hospital," said Chan. Responding to Lee's criticism, Bureau of Health Director Yeh Chin-chuan promised to draw up plans within six months to provide easy ways to distinguish interns from licensed doctors.