Supreme Court: "Radiologic Technologist Performing Ultrasound Examination Alone Violates Medical Service Act"

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The Supreme Court has ruled that a radiologic technologist performing ultrasound examinations alone and interpreting the results without a doctor's supervision constitutes a violation of the Medical Service Act.

The Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice Lee Dong-won) announced on the 18th that it upheld the lower court's ruling in the appeal trial of doctor A, who was prosecuted for violating the Medical Service Act, sentencing A to a fine of 10 million won and giving radiologic technologist B a suspended sentence.

A, the director of a hospital in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, was prosecuted on charges including instructing B to perform ultrasound examinations and prepare medical opinions in 2012. It was found that B conducted the examinations alone and wrote opinions for approximately 6,100 patients.

Both the first and second trials recognized guilt, stating, "Disease diagnosis is directly related to the health and life of the public, and there is a need to prevent recurrence of crimes that delegate ultrasound image diagnosis to radiologic technologists."

According to the Medical Service Act, ultrasound examinations must be conducted by a doctor or by a radiologic technologist under the supervision and guidance of a doctor.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.