47-year-old dermatologist dies suddenly as clinic closes permanently, sparking wage and refund dispute

The sudden death of 47-year-old dermatologist Chen Shilun has left his Fu Lai Clinic in Dajia, Taichung, facing disputes over unpaid employee entitlements and delayed customer refunds.

Chen died on July 28, only a little more than a year after leaving the hospital system to establish the clinic. His family then announced that Fu Lai would close permanently, saying the decision followed careful consideration, respect for his wishes and broader circumstances. The family said it would properly handle administrative matters and arrangements for patients.

The closure has since prompted complaints from staff who say they have yet to receive wages or severance pay. Employees were reportedly told that funds had been temporarily restricted because of issues including estate tax, but they have not been given a clear payment date. Some customers also said they had already paid for treatments or services. The clinic requested their bank-account details, leading them to believe refunds were about to be processed, but the money had not arrived.

The Taichung Health Bureau said it received one consumer-dispute complaint involving the clinic on July 31 and sent a letter to the family the next day, asking it to handle the matter properly. Questions involving wages and severance fall under labor laws and procedures and will be dealt with by the responsible authorities.

Before his death, Chen was known as friendly and talkative. He regularly interacted with the public on social media and had recently begun making short videos. On July 24, the clinic's page posted a video of him introducing local food in Dajia, with no apparent sign that anything was wrong. After news of his death, many patients left messages of condolence, including one who wrote, "I saw the doctor's video just a few days ago. I really can't believe it."

“

I saw the doctor's video just a few days ago. I really can't believe it.