Kim Sung-joo: "Medical Licenses Are Not Sacred or Extraterritorial Rights"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Kim Seong-ju, the Democratic Party lawmaker and secretary of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, criticized, "Is the Korean Medical Association living in an extraterritorial zone that denies the executive, legislative, and judicial branches?"

On the 23rd, at the Democratic Party's floor strategy meeting, Rep. Kim said, "The Medical Association is opposing the Medical Service Act amendment, which includes the revocation of licenses for medical professionals convicted of serious crimes, calling it a law that forcibly takes away licenses." He emphasized, "The fundamental purpose of the Medical Service Act amendment, proposed by seven lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties, is to strengthen the qualifications of doctors to protect the trust of the majority of ethical medical professionals from a very small number of immoral doctors who have committed serious crimes."

He stated, "Claims that this is excessive regulation or retaliation against doctors are completely untrue." Rep. Kim added, "License revocation only occurs when a court sentence of imprisonment or higher is given. Is a medical license a sacred and inviolable license bestowed by God?"

He also said, "Sexual crimes are already punished, and there are almost no violent crimes such as murder. It is rare to receive imprisonment or higher for traffic accidents, and the remaining crimes are theft, violence, and fraud. Surely doctors would not commit such acts."

Rep. Kim said, "Ultimately, even if this law passes, the number of cases receiving license revocation will be very small." He criticized, "Rather, if the Medical Association takes the lead in saying 'serious criminals should lose their medical licenses,' it would earn respect as 'doctors are indeed different.' But shielding their own members by saying that no matter what crime is committed, the medical license must be protected, is apparently unaware that this undermines public trust in doctors." He added, "I am placing my hopes on the bold decision of the newly elected Medical Association leadership in March."

He also mentioned the installation of CCTV in operating rooms. Rep. Kim said, "As the ruling party secretary, I support the installation of CCTV in operating rooms," explaining, "This has been a long-standing controversial issue, and the Health and Welfare Committee is narrowing differences through multiple discussions." He added, "Even if the installation of CCTV in operating rooms becomes mandatory, the consent of patients and their guardians is essential. As an alternative, there is consensus on making CCTV installation mandatory at the entrance of operating rooms, while installation inside the operating rooms would be voluntary, promoted through support and incentives."

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