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Panel Discussion on Medical Practices in Chinatown
(An excerpt from the 1996 Annual Scientific Meeting, November 23, 1996)
Moderator, Marcus Loo M.D.
Panelists, Alan Chaning, Doreen Chen, Kevin Ergil, Molly Gordy, Sun-Hoo Foo, M.D., Carl S. Leung
The panel started with the moving account of Molly Gordy, New York Daily News reporter, on her 4 part series in exposing the blatant activities of illegal doctors in Chinatown.
Dr. Marcus Loo, moderator, then asked the panel specific questions:
Q: According to a National survey, 50% of people find a doctor through the recommendation of friends, 30% through doctor referral, 15% through hospital referral and 5% through advertisements. Do you see a different pattern in Chinatown?
Dr. Fong: They are definitely skewed to advertising.
Q: Mr. Leung, how do your patients come to see you?
Mr. Leung: (herbalist, through translator) I do not advertise, they come through recommendations.
Q: Now that many of the false advertisements have been removed from the newspapers, how can the community protect itself in the future?
Mr. Alan Channing (CEO, New York Downtown Hospital): There is access to many community-based educationalprograms that can be helpful.
Q: Ms. Gordy, have you gotten any feedbacks from your colleagues in the Chinese news papers?
Ms. Gordy: I worked closely with my Chinese colleagues. They universally applauded me on the series.
Q: How do patients choose between a western and a herbal doctor?
Dr. Foo: I think a lot of people in Chinatown shop around. If they do not get better after they see a western doctor they then go to a herbalist.
Dr. Fong: I want to take a vote from the audience, how many of you would refer your patient to a herbalist?
No one in the audience says yes.
Dr. Fong: Oxford Health Plans has initiated, beginning next January, to reimburse alternative health cares. My concern is that we, as physicians, do not know enough about alternative medicine for the referral.
Q: Do you perceive any problems once managed care introduces alternative medicine into its services?
Mr. Kevin Ergil (Dean, Pacific Institute of Oriental Medicine): I think it is an exciting prospect to have the medical constituency working with traditional medicine. Ms. Chen: (acupuncturist) I am glad to see the Chinese traditional medicine which have been used for thousands of years finally integrated with western medicine in this country.
A Prepared statement from Mr. Leung:
It is a real honor for me to make this presentation to a group of western doctors. This illustrates to our Association that the leading members of your Society are open-minded. This shows respect not only for traditional medicine but also for the traditional culture, health care and lifestyles of our heritage. The recent crackdown on illegal doctors had hurt us greatly. The sweeping actions of the State agency directly aimed at the herbalist. Our reputation is negatively affected. The swindlers are actually not traditional herbalists. Our Association met during this difficult times and there are some who
misinterpreted the actions brought about by your Society. However, our Association as a whole felt that your actions were necessary and your recent statement showing respect of the values of traditional medicine had greatly helped to eliminate the misunderstanding created by the recent event. Our Association feels that this a good beginning for more communication, contact and mutual respect between us. Let us cooperate as we do share a common goal, to better serve our community. Presently, our Association is conducting qualification evaluations of traditional herbalist within our community. We have also formulated minimal qualification standards for herbalists. Our goal is to get rid of all charlatans and to observe strictly the working rules of traditional herbalist. Our Association will continue to keep contact with the legislative and executive branches of the government so as to better serve the community.
Further Information:
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