Taiwan revokes doctor's license for illegal organ brokering in China

Taiwan has revoked the medical license of renowned surgeon Chen Yao-li, marking the first such instance in the country for illegal organ brokering. Chen, a former surgeon at Changhua Christian Hospital, arranged for nine Taiwanese patients to undergo liver and kidney transplants in China between 2016 and 2019.

He earned approximately NT$14.66 million in brokerage fees through these illegal arrangements. The patients paid between NT$3 million and NT$7.5 million for the procedures, which included organ procurement costs, surgery, and post-operative care. Despite the high costs, five of the nine patients died within weeks to five years after their transplants.

Chen had previously collaborated with a pharmaceutical sales representative and a medical business operator involved in cross-strait organ transplants. While a previous disciplinary committee decided not to penalize him for ethical violations, the law was amended in 2015 to include criminal penalties for illegal organ brokering. Chen was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for five years, and ordered to pay NT$5 million to the public treasury. The revocation of his medical license by the Ministry of Health and Welfare underscores the severity of his actions and serves as a precedent for future cases.

“

This is the first time in Taiwan that a doctor has had their license revoked for illegal organ brokering.