Taiwan Massage Therapist Sentenced Over Botched Post-Operative Treatment
A Taiwan court sentenced a local massage therapist to six months in prison for practicing medicine illegally after post-operative massages ruptured a patient's breast implant.
A court in Taichung, Taiwan, has sentenced a local massage therapist to six months in prison for practicing medicine without a license after her treatments led to a patient's breast implant rupture. The case, reported by local media outlets including China Times and ETtoday, highlights strict regulations regarding post-operative medical procedures.
Illegal Treatments and Medical Verdict
According to court documents, the defendant, identified by her family name Chu, lacks any medical license or certification. Over a period of six months starting in September 2023, she performed 32 sessions of specialized post-operative massage for a patient who had undergone breast reconstruction surgery. The sessions took place at a local spa.
During the trial, a dispute arose regarding the fees collected. Prosecutors stated Chu charged a total of about 7,600 shekels equivalent, while the defendant claimed she performed general relaxation and traditional meridian massages, charging much less. Investigators presented solid evidence, including chat logs, payment records, and an official finding by the local health bureau.
Court Ruling and Safety Warnings
The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan issued a definitive statement emphasizing that post-operative breast massage is a therapeutic procedure designed to prevent medical complications, not a cosmetic treatment. Consequently, such procedures may only be performed by licensed medical professionals within accredited medical institutions.
The court noted that although the defendant has no criminal record and expressed remorse, she repeatedly performed illegal medical procedures and demonstrated a profound lack of understanding regarding the associated health risks.
Because no compensation agreement was reached with the victim, the court refused to suspend the prison sentence. The six-month sentence can be commuted to a fine, and the court ordered the forfeiture of her illegal profits.
