The Korean Medical Association Opposes Operating Room CCTV Installation... Apologizes for Proxy Surgery Allegations at Spine Hospital

Lee Pil-su, President of the Korean Medical Association (second from the right), is speaking at a press conference to strengthen doctors' self-regulation held on the morning of the 2nd at the temporary building of the Korean Medical Association in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Korean Medical Association (KMA) expressed a negative stance on the discussion of installing CCTV in operating rooms as a solution to eradicate proxy surgeries.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, the KMA held a press conference at a temporary hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, stating, "Medical ethics are more efficiently and realistically regulated internally by medical professional organizations rather than through external surveillance or legal control."

Chairman Ilsoo Lee of the KMA said, "It could intimidate the majority of good doctors, leading to defensive medicine that may cause fatal harm to patients. Additionally, installing and managing CCTV and preventing personal information leaks would incur significant social costs," adding, "It is like burning down a thatched cottage to catch a flea." He also stated, "The vast majority of good doctors should not be misunderstood due to the mistakes of a very small minority," and announced plans to significantly strengthen the functions of the KMA Central Ethics Committee to promote self-purification. Currently, the strongest disciplinary action the Central Ethics Committee can impose is a three-year suspension of membership rights.

The KMA announced it will continue self-regulation through the "Expert Evaluation System," a pilot project promoted with the Ministry of Health and Welfare for the past five years. The KMA receives and investigates complaints regarding illegal medical advertisements, patient solicitation, sexual crimes such as illegal filming, and inadequate pharmaceutical management through this system. Furthermore, it plans to establish a 'Self-Purification Reporting Center' available 24 hours at the central association and each city and provincial medical association. Subsequently, the KMA Self-Purification Special Committee will verify facts and refer cases to the Expert Evaluation Group or the Central Ethics Committee.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the KMA apologized for the recent proxy surgery allegations at a spine specialty hospital. Chairman Lee said, "On behalf of the medical community, I sincerely apologize to the patients, their families, and the public who have suffered due to proxy surgeries." He added, "If guilt is confirmed, licenses may be revoked. We have filed complaints against those involved based on the 'Special Act on the Control of Health Crimes,' which carries harsher penalties than the Medical Service Act, and have also requested immediate disciplinary review by the Central Ethics Committee, taking strong measures."

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