Opinion Piece: If Elected Officials Can't Even Queue, Why Should They Represent the People? The Chen Chao-tzu Medical Visit Controversy Requires More Than an Apology

Taiwan People's Party legislator Chen Chao-tzu was exposed by netizens for allegedly bypassing the queue when visiting the Neurosurgery Department at National Taiwan University Hospital, provoking dissatisfaction among waiting patients. Chen later stated that she has always advocated that "no one, regardless of status, should cut in line," but due to severe physical discomfort, she was unaware of the actual registration and call-up procedures. She expressed willingness to take responsibility and apologize if misunderstandings, discomfort, or actual procedural errors occurred. However, this response is unlikely to dispel public concerns. For ordinary citizens without power or connections, seeking medical care means following the rules—registering and waiting. It is common to wait one or two hours, or even half a day, when doctors are in surgery or handling emergencies. My grandfather, in his final moments, waited desperately in the emergency room, yet until his last breath, no hospital bed became available—he lay in the noisy ER space. That sense of helplessness is something many patient families have personally experienced. Precisely because medical resources are limited, "fair queuing" is the last line of trust the public can rely on. If legislators receive preferential treatment due to their status, it harms not just a few waiting patients, but the public’s trust in the entire healthcare system and public authority. According to Chen, she experienced dizziness and vomiting that day and was concerned about post-concussion syndrome. If symptoms were urgent, she should have been triaged through the emergency department; if opting for outpatient care, she should have followed the same waiting rules as others, without letting her schedule or time constraints push others’ pain and time aside. More importantly: Did her family or assistant contact the hospital using the legislative office’s name? Did the hospital adjust the consultation order accordingly? What exact procedure allowed her entry into the examination room? These questions must be transparently addressed by Chen and NTU Hospital, rather than being brushed aside with claims of "poor health and unclear circumstances." Chen has a strong medical background and should especially understand the importance of waiting systems and medical equity. "Not knowing" does not absolve political responsibility; even if she didn’t personally request it, she must still be accountable for any special arrangements made due to her status. If investigations confirm that her official position was used to alter the consultation order, Chen should not merely say, "I regret causing misunderstanding," but formally apologize to the delayed patients and the public, and resign from her legislative seat. This is not just about one queue-jumping incident, but about three fundamental ethical duties of elected representatives: no abuse of public power, no undermining of institutional fairness, and no shirking of responsibility after controversy arises. In a democratic society, officials’ illnesses are not more painful, nor are legislators’ time more valuable. Those who truly represent the people must first be willing to stand in the same line as the people. *Author works in the service industry.