Doctor challenges claim that Lin Fang-yu graduated first from Taipei First Girls High School

A psychiatrist and prominent supporter of former Taiwan People's Party chairman Ko Wen-je has challenged claims surrounding Lin Chih-yun's academic record and her decision not to apply to National Taiwan University's medical program through recommendations.

The dispute emerged after controversy over Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's eldest son receiving a mayoral award and an exchange-student qualification, which prompted allegations of privilege and conflict-of-interest concerns. Lin, the daughter of former National Taiwan University Hospital president Lin Fang-yu, wrote that she had ranked first in her class and could have applied to NTU's medical school through the recommendation system. She said her father told her that, as an NTU professor responsible for the medical school's recommendation process, he could not allow her to participate, so she gave up the place and took the standard entrance examination instead.

Shen said a classmate of Lin's had told him that everyone knew she was not the top graduate of Taipei First Girls High School. He also said recommendation admissions were not widely used at the time, and that the NTU medical students from that class had entered through the standard examination rather than recommendations.

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In fact, at that time Lin Fang-yu was not yet a prominent figure at National Taiwan University Hospital, nor was he an administrator at the NTU College of Medicine, so there was no conflict-of-interest issue at all.

He questioned whether Lin Fang-yu had actually served as the recommendation coordinator, saying the medical college dean and department chair handled admissions at the time. Shen argued that even if Lin Fang-yu had been the coordinator, he could have suspended himself for a year to avoid a conflict of interest rather than prohibit his daughter from applying. He said Lin Fang-yu was not yet a major figure at the hospital or a medical school administrator, so he saw no conflict-of-interest issue.

Shen also cited claims from NTU doctors about Lin Chih-yun's status as a publicly funded medical graduate in 2004. He said a proposed change would have required such graduates to serve first at government hospitals instead of beginning residency training at medical centres. The policy was delayed until 2005 after protests, including one involving the son of legislator Lai Shih-pao, and the delay prompted speculation about whether Lin was connected to it. Shen ended his post by comparing himself to Ku Ah-ming, the poor child oppressed by privilege in the film “The Dull-Ice Flower,” and describing his own father as a worker who died young and his mother as illiterate.

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The child of a poor family is born 20 years old. Looking at other people's family backgrounds, I can only say that I was naturally brilliant.