Huang Kuo-chang's 'abandoned medicine for law' claim sparks sharp criticism

A recent self-description by Taiwanese politician Huang Kuo-chang, stating he "graduated from Jian Guo High School and abandoned medicine for law," has sparked considerable debate and criticism. Huang, the current chairman of the Taiwan People's Party, recently published a book detailing his career path.

Physician and writer Yang Ssu-peng has sharply criticized Huang's statement, questioning his right to claim he "abandoned medicine." Yang argues that Huang never pursued medical studies, lacked the necessary academic qualifications in subjects like physics and chemistry for medical school admission, and therefore never had a medical license or degree to abandon. Yang sarcastically suggested Huang's "abandonment of medicine" is akin to "giving up on treatment."

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His 'abandonment of medicine' is 'giving up on treatment!'

Yang Ssu-peng cited examples of individuals who genuinely transitioned from medical fields to other disciplines. Mathematician Yang Wei-che studied medicine for three years before switching to mathematics, while biochemist Liao Shu-tsung transferred from agricultural chemistry to medicine briefly before returning to his original field. Yang contrasted these cases with Huang's situation, asserting that one cannot abandon something they never possessed.

The controversy centers on the interpretation of career transitions and the prerequisites for claiming to have "abandoned" a profession. Huang's statement has been met with online mockery, with critics emphasizing that his path did not involve entering or completing medical studies, thus invalidating his claim of having "abandoned" the profession.

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You cannot abandon something you never had.