"Want to Touch More" Trainee Doctor Harasses Anesthetized Patient, Working at Seoul National University Hospital

Hospital Side "Unaware of Crime, Presumed Innocent for Now"

A resident (intern) who was prosecuted on charges of sexually assaulting a female patient under anesthesia has been confirmed to continue the medical training program at Seoul National University Hospital. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article.
[Photo by Getty Images Bank]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] It has been confirmed that an intern who was prosecuted for sexually harassing a female patient under anesthesia is continuing the medical training process at Seoul National University Hospital. Seoul National University Hospital stated that they were unaware of the intern's criminal actions.

In 2019, Mr. A, who was undergoing an internship in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Seoul Asan Medical Center, repeatedly touched the body parts of a female patient under anesthesia while waiting for surgery and made sexually harassing remarks such as, "I want to touch more, so I will stay in the operating room." Subsequently, Seoul Asan Medical Center imposed a disciplinary action canceling Mr. A's training.

According to a report by KBS on the 15th, it was confirmed that Mr. A resigned from Seoul Asan Medical Center and has been working in the Orthopedics department at Seoul National University Hospital since March of this year.

Seoul National University Hospital prohibits reemployment for five years if a trainee is dismissed due to disciplinary action, but this regulation was not applied to Mr. A. This is because Mr. A resigned voluntarily before the dismissal procedure was finalized when he received the training cancellation disciplinary action at Seoul Asan Medical Center, making the regulation inapplicable.

Seoul National University Hospital stated that they conduct criminal background checks related to sexual crimes and child abuse for residents who pass the recruitment process, but at the beginning of this year, when the intern recruitment process was underway, they were unable to know about Mr. A's criminal record.

Earlier, the Songpa Police Station in Seoul, which received the case, applied charges including forcible molestation against Mr. A in February and sent the case to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office with a prosecution opinion. The prosecution indicted Mr. A without detention in May. The recruitment process for interns at Seoul National University Hospital reportedly began in February this year.

A representative of Seoul National University Hospital stated, "For now, (Mr. A) is one of our members, and currently, it is correct to presume innocence. It is appropriate to presume innocence."

If Mr. A works until February next year, he will complete the internship process and become eligible to apply for residency. Even if he is convicted in court, it is expected that his medical license will be maintained. Current law stipulates that a medical license can only be revoked if a person is sentenced to imprisonment or higher for violating medical-related laws. There are no separate regulations for revoking licenses for those who commit sexual crimes.

Meanwhile, the next trial for Mr. A is scheduled for the 25th.

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