Jail terms passed for medical personnel violating patient privacy

Taipei, Aug. 25 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan has passed a series of amendments to the Medical Care Act that introduce a prison term of up to three years for medical personnel who engage in unauthorized photographing or filming of patients' intimate body parts.

One of the amendments stipulate that medical institutions and their staff must not use any tools or equipment to view patients' intimate body parts, or view or listen to patients' medical records, "without a valid reason."

Those who arbitrarily record, photograph, film or make electromagnetic recordings of patients' medical records or intimate body parts face up to three years in prison and may also be fined up to NT$300,000 (US$9,403), with the equipment used subject to confiscation, according to another amendment.

Those who profit by supplying tools or equipment to medical institutions and assist in making such recordings face up to five years in prison and may be fined up to NT$500,000, another provision stipulates.

The amendments were proposed in the wake of a spate of incidents involving franchised and independent beauty clinics across Taiwan that filmed patients' intimate body parts without their consent, resulting in fines or suspensions being imposed on at least 21 clinics.

Other revisions to the act were also adopted Tuesday to strengthen protections for medical personnel.

Under the revisions, the fine for people who subject medical personnel to violence, coercion or threats was raised from between NT$30,000 and NT$50,000 to between NT$50,000 and NT$250,000.