Administrative Staff Suspected of 'Proxy Surgery'... Police Raid Incheon Spine Specialty Hospital

Incheon Spine Specialty Hospital under suspicion of proxy surgery
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The police have launched an investigation into a spine specialty hospital in Incheon where allegations have been raised that administrative staff, not doctors, performed surgeries on behalf of doctors.

On the 27th, the Metropolitan Investigation Unit of the Incheon Police Agency conducted a search and seizure at A Spine Specialty Hospital located in Namdong-gu, Incheon, on suspicion of violating the Medical Service Act.

The police reportedly secured various medical records, including surgery logs, from the hospital's administrative offices and confiscated mobile phones and CCTV footage from the hospital directors and some administrative staff.

Hospital A is suspected of illegal medical practices, such as administrative staff, not doctors, making incisions or suturing patients' surgical sites in the operating room since February this year.

The 10-hour video footage recently obtained by the police shows an administrative staff member making an incision on a patient's lower back lying on the operating table, followed by the hospital director, a doctor, performing surgery for about five minutes, and then another administrative staff member suturing the wound.

According to Article 27 of the Medical Service Act, "Prohibition of Unlicensed Medical Practice," no one other than a medical professional may perform medical acts, nor may medical acts be delegated to non-medical personnel. Violations are punishable by imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won.

The police suspect that the hospital conducted proxy surgeries to reduce doctors' labor costs. However, the hospital denies all allegations, stating that no proxy surgeries or illegal medical practices were conducted.

The police plan to summon hospital officials for further verification of facts once the analysis of the seized items is complete.

Meanwhile, the Korean Medical Association has filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against the hospital directors and related personnel for violating the Special Act on the Control of Health Crimes and has decided to request disciplinary review by the Central Ethics Committee for the representative director.

Hospital A is a spine specialty medical institution designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. It opened in 2006 with 64 beds and expanded in 2013 to increase the number of beds to 106.

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