Doctor who failed to detect liver cancer in patient acquited

The trial court stated that Dr. Wang Kuei-liang's An-Fa Clinic, of which the deceased Quanta Computer director Liu Tai-sheng was a member, provided annual checkups that included abdominal ultrasounds, which was in line with standard medical practice.

The lawsuit against Wang was filed by Liu's widow, who was enraged that Wang failed to detect liver cancer in her husband, who received annual checkups and spent NT$750,000 during his three-year membership at An-Fa Clinic. Liu first became a member in 2002 and died of advanced liver cancer in 2005 at age 42.

A trial of first instance in March had sentenced Wang to two years suspension for malpractice and noted that for a clinic charging such high membership fees, regular checkups and advanced detection techniques should yield an early and accurate diagnosis.

Yet the second instance yesterday absolved Wang of liability.

Wang's lawyer, Chun Yen-ren was pleased with the verdict. He argued that it is wrong to equate high membership fees with a higher burden in scrupulous clinical attention. “The extra charges may lie in better service and protection of privacy,” Chun added.

A settlement of NT$7 million was given to Liu's family by An-fa Clinic.

The deceased Liu earned a reported annual income of over NT$5 million as director of Quanta Computer.

In June 2005, stomach pains forced Liu to be admitted into the hospital's emergency room where doctor were shocked to discover that he had terminal liver cancer. Seven months later, he died.

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