"Daughter's Cry: 'My Father Died Because Hospital Treated Unvaccinated Patients'"

COVID-19 Patients Overflow in Iowa, USA
Sepsis Patient Dies After 15 Days Waiting
"Unvaccinated Blocked Father's Treatment," Family Anger
Medical Resources Focused on High-Risk Unvaccinated Patients
Some Countries Implement 'Unvaccinated Pay Own Treatment Costs' Policy

Medical staff treating COVID-19 patients at a hospital in the United States. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] "My father died because the hospital was treating unvaccinated patients. Why should we suffer?"

The question of whether to provide hospital beds to unvaccinated COVID-19 patients who develop severe illness is emerging as a new conflict in several countries. As the number of severe COVID-19 cases rapidly rises worldwide, healthcare resources such as hospital beds and medical personnel are quickly depleting. Amid this, controversies have grown as general patients are unable to receive timely surgeries and care due to treatment being prioritized for unvaccinated patients.

Those who have lost precious family members due to the overwhelmed healthcare system are raising their voices, saying "the unvaccinated indirectly caused these deaths." On the other hand, there are also arguments that public healthcare, funded by taxpayers, should not discriminate against patients.

◆Should have been treated at a large hospital... died while waiting

According to a report by the US media 'The Washington Post' on the 28th (local time), Dale Weeks, a former school principal in Iowa, passed away last month on the 28th in a small hospital room. Although he had received two doses of the vaccine and a booster shot, his cause of death was not COVID-19 infection but sepsis.

Sepsis is a syndrome where bacteria-infected blood spreads throughout the body causing inflammation. According to the US civic group 'Sepsis Alliance,' 270,000 Americans die from sepsis annually.

Weeks sought treatment at hospitals near Iowa but large hospitals were already full treating COVID-19 patients. Ultimately, he had no choice but to rely on a small hospital about 80 miles (approximately 128 km) from his home.

As the number of severe COVID-19 patients sharply increased, U.S. health authorities responded by setting up temporary field hospitals last year. The photo shows a field hospital in Detroit, Michigan. / Photo by Yonhap News

The problem was that Weeks' condition had already become severe. The hospital recommended specialized treatment at a large hospital, but Weeks had to wait until the severe COVID-19 patients were discharged. Fifteen days passed, and Weeks died from his illness without receiving adequate help.

Weeks' family expressed anger, saying "the unvaccinated indirectly caused his death." Weeks' youngest daughter told 'The Washington Post' in an interview, "It's as if the unvaccinated blocked my father's treatment. I'm really angry."

◆Insufficient medical resources... growing conflict over treating unvaccinated patients

As the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of ending, the issue of whether to treat unvaccinated severe COVID-19 patients is emerging as a new social conflict. Complaints arise that it is unfair for scarce medical resources to be used for unvaccinated patients.

According to recent data released by the Iowa Department of Public Health, about 82% of patients currently receiving hospital treatment are unvaccinated. Unvaccinated patients also occupy 88% of intensive care unit beds.

This conflict is showing signs of occurring not only in the US but also in other countries. As the number of severe patients exceeds 1,000 and the healthcare system becomes heavily burdened, the situation is similar in South Korea, which had to reverse its quarantine policies.

According to Korean health authorities, from early to mid this month, unvaccinated individuals accounted for only 8% of adults aged 18 and over, but they made up 51% of severe cases and 54% of deaths. This explains why a significant portion of medical resources is concentrated on the small unvaccinated group.

On the 23rd of last month, the intensive care unit of Pyeongtaek Bakae Hospital, a dedicated COVID-19 treatment center, was crowded with beds filled with critically ill patients and medical staff / Photo by Yonhap News

As hospital beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients increase, general patients may suffer direct or indirect harm. While the government can purchase hospital buildings, beds, and oxygen respirators, medical personnel to manage these must be expanded in higher-level hospitals. This reduces the staff available for general care, potentially causing a backlog.

On the other hand, there is a counterargument that public medical institutions discriminating against patients based on vaccination status is a clear violation of fundamental rights.

One netizen recently posted on the Blue House's public petition board, stating, "Discrimination against the unvaccinated and even the vaccine pass is unreasonable discrimination unless 'complete understanding of vaccine safety and side effects' is established first. Policy discrimination against the unvaccinated violates Article 10 of the Constitution and is totalitarian state administration. Respect individuals' choices regarding vaccination."

◆Some countries require unvaccinated patients to bear treatment costs

Some countries, including Singapore, have introduced policies requiring unvaccinated patients receiving hospital treatment to bear the costs themselves. According to local media such as 'The Straits Times,' Singapore implemented this self-pay policy for unvaccinated patients starting on the 8th.

COVID-19 Vaccine. / Photo by Yonhap News

Ong Ye Kung, Singapore's Minister of Health, explained this measure as "to prevent the imbalance where most healthcare resources are concentrated on the unvaccinated," adding, "It will send an important signal to those still delaying vaccination."

In South Korea, under the current Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, COVID-19, classified as a 'Class 1 infectious disease,' has treatment costs covered by local governments. However, it has been reported that a plan to require unvaccinated patients to bear part of the treatment costs is under consideration.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at a press conference on the 26th of last month, "When severe patients receive some treatment and pass the critical phase, they should move to general wards, but some refuse. Then, we might say, 'From now on, you must bear the treatment costs yourself.' Experts analyze that this could secure 130 to 150 more beds in the metropolitan area."

However, he added, "The state has a responsibility to protect its citizens, and infectious diseases like COVID-19 are disasters, so we need to consider the extent of that responsibility," and stated that the government will carefully review the issue from the perspective of whether individuals should be held accountable for their choices.

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