SARS Heping Hospital Lockdown Controversy: Bureaucratic Negligence and Shifting Responsibility During a Health Crisis

During the 2003 SARS outbreak, the sudden and chaotic lockdown of Heping Hospital led to severe cross-infection and panic, resulting in many deaths of patients and medical staff. The DPP central government and the Taipei city government engaged in a fierce blame game over the decision and its execution, showing how political infighting triumphed over public safety during a national emergency.