Active Physician: "Vaccine Non-Cooperation Disappoints the Public... Must Have Strong Ethical Awareness"

On the afternoon of the 17th, in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Choi Dae-jip, the president of the Korean Medical Association, is reading a press statement at the "Press Conference Urging Protection of Medical Personnel to Overcome the COVID-19 Crisis." [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Soyoung] As the Medical Service Act amendment bill to 'revoke' the license of doctors sentenced to 'imprisonment or higher' has passed the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) has stated that it is willing to go on a total strike if the bill passes the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. However, some voices from within the medical community have said, "Doctors should have a stronger sense of ethics than lawyers."

Professor Kim Daejung of Ajou University Hospital said in an interview on June 23 with TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' "The statement from the Korean Medical Association is actually something that should not be done," adding, "Refusing to cooperate with vaccination under the current circumstances disappoints the majority of the public."

Regarding the details of the amendment bill, Professor Kim said, "In cases of traffic accidents where someone causes severe disability or death due to drunk driving, if the perpetrator continues to practice as a doctor openly, it is a terrible situation," and argued, "If lawyers or accountants have regulations to maintain their licenses under the current amendment, it is reasonable for doctors to follow the same standards."

He further commented on the exclusion of 'professional negligence causing death or injury' from the scope of application in the amendment to prevent passive medical treatment, saying, "Medical accidents are what doctors fear the most, and being punished for professional negligence causing death or injury is a concern," and added, "Considering the special nature of medical practice, it is actually very grateful and well done to recognize this as an exception."

Regarding the KMA's current hardline stance, he said, "About 150 doctors per year would have their licenses revoked due to murder, robbery, sexual crimes, etc. This is 0.1% of the total 100,000 doctors, and the KMA should carefully consider that the honor of 99.9% of doctors is being tarnished because of this 0.1%."

He also addressed the use of 'vaccination' as a bargaining chip during the struggle, stating, "Doctors deal with human lives, so they should have a stronger sense of ethics than lawyers," and argued, "Since the public wants a stronger sense of ethics, it is appropriate to accept this amendment bill."

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