Chuang Jui-hsiung, a Taipei city council of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, raised the accusation at a press conference after receiving complaints from patients suffering from the undesirable practice by the hospital.

Chuang said Wanfang Hospital has secretly used hidden cameras to monitor behavior of patients for at least two years, violating the secrets protection rules, adding that such a practice is punishable by a three-year imprisonment.

The DPP city councilor urged Wanfang Hospital to apologize to the social public for the matter and to immediately remove all the hidden cameras installed in wards.

In response, Hsu Chun-sen, vice president and spokesman of the hospital, said that it was indeed a wrongful practice for the hospital to install hidden cameras without obtaining prior approval from patients, and therefore the hospital will soon tear down such cameras immediately.

But Hsu stressed that there is a need for some sickrooms to have hidden cameras, as such devices would help safeguard patients and nurses, and prevent crimes.

Accordingly, Hsu continued, the hospital will move to seek approvals from patients that require special nursing care or those who have weird behaviors such as violent attacks against nurses.

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