TAIPEI: Three medical doctors who have admitted to colluding with patients to defraud some NT$80 million ($2.48 million) from insurance companies may have their licenses revoked and expelled from the profession, medical officials said yesterday.

Yang Chao-jan, a physician with the Department of Health's (DOH) Keelung Hospital; Lai Teh-hsing, a surgeon with Yee Zen General Hospital in Taoyuan County; and Wu Kuo-ching, a surgeon with St Joseph's Hospital in Yunlin County, have been indicted by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office for fraud, along with seven others who acted as patients, according to DOH chief Yaung Chih-liang.

More medical workers remain under investigation in the same fraud case, which involves more than 10 health care institutions and could end up being the largest medical scandal in Taiwan's history, Yaung said at a news conference.

The accused doctors allegedly colluded with a fraud ring headed by a man identified as Fu Chien-sen, who since 2003 has orchestrated fake medical treatment records with doctored diagnoses and surgery reports to claim cancer payments from life insurance companies.

"The trick was using fake diagnoses and surgery reports as well as samples stolen from cancer patients to make the fraudulent insurance claims," Yaung noted.

For example, he said, ringleader Fu Chien-sen himself had hemorrhoids removed at a hospital, but he filed claims for reimbursement of cancer treatments that included certificates showing he had an operation and received chemotherapy for rectal cancer.

Shih Chung-liang, director of the DOH Bureau of Medical Affairs, said the three disgraced doctors and the seven fake patients have defrauded insurance companies of between NT$60 million and NT$80 million.

Other individuals still under investigation, including four doctors, may have conned another NT$100 million out of insurers.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 12/30/2009 page2)