Yin Cheng-hsiung

 

Source: China Times

 

November 5, 2014

 

When interviewed by SETTV(三立) on January 6 this year, now pan-Green camp Taipei City Mayoral candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was asked whether he suffered from Asperger syndrome (AS), an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interactions and non-verbal communication.  If Ko indeed suffers from Asperger syndrome, how would he overcome his difficulties in social interactions and communication with others? Should Ko be elected as Taipei City mayor, how would he govern Taipei City?

 

According to an article carried in the May 7, 2014 issue of the China Times Weekly magazine, Ko admitted that he was “an oddball” because he might have had Asperger syndrome since he was a child.  The article pointed out that Ko stated that his son suffered from Asperger syndrome and the same physician that diagnosed his son told him that he might also suffer from Asperger syndrome judging from the way he spoke and behaved.

 

Why did Ko deny that he suffered from Asperger syndrome just six months after he had admitted to it?  The most likely possibility was that Ko had not intended to tell a lie, but his brain automatically erased the memory of what he had said before. 

 

This could also explain why Ko had first said that he welcomed the public to scrutinize the MG149 account established in the name of National Taiwan University Hospital after the account caused a controversy, but later refused to allow anyone to do so.  This also explains why Ko repeatedly made sexist remarks about “not wanting to make a living between a woman’s legs” 【Editor’s note: referring to his reason for not wanting to become an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist】even though he clearly knew such remarks were sexist.  Furthermore, this explains why Ko repeatedly violated the confidentiality of patients’ medical records, leaking some medical records, including those of Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu’s wife, Chen Shui-bian, and  King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), incumbent secretary-general of the National Security Council.  However, Ko refuses to tell the voters in Taipei City whether he suffers from Asperger syndrome.

 

In terms of pathology,  Asperger syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

 

In short, someone who suffers from Asperger syndrome might be outstanding in some aspects, but could also do something wrong without knowing it.

 

Suffering from Asperger syndrome is not what we fear, and if Ko were not running in the Taipei City Mayoral election, people might only focus on the fact that, according to the May article in the China Times Weekly, Ko did not have many friends at the National Taiwan University Hospital.  If Ko should win the election, Taipei City could face a dire crisis because Ko’s behavior could be rasher and more unpredictable than Chen Shui-bian’s.  

 

Ko and his campaign team must admit that he is not suited for political affairs. Only by doing so will Ko demonstrate his love for Taiwan and be worthy the public’s respect.