Amid Likely Passage of Nursing Act... Ongoing Conflict Between Medical and Nursing Sectors

Nursing Act Vote in Plenary Session Approaching
"Infringement on Other Professions' Rights" vs "Concerns Already Resolved"
Yoon's Possible Use of 'Veto' Also Anticipated

As the National Assembly plenary session vote on the Nursing Act bill scheduled for April approaches, controversy continues within the medical community over its pros and cons. The key issue of the Nursing Act is the independent medical activities of nurses. The current Medical Service Act (Article 2) defines nurses' duties as "assisting medical treatment under the guidance of a doctor," but the Nursing Act proposes creating an independent system that separately stipulates nurses' duties, authority, and responsibilities, and expanding the scope of nurses' work.

However, the medical community is concerned that expanding the scope of nurses' duties could lead to the collapse of the medical system. They argue that the vertical work system of "doctor-nurse-nursing assistant" is desirable for guaranteeing the public's right to health.

The Mint Angel Campaign's Public Sentiment March Kick-off Ceremony, emphasizing the urgent need to enact the Nursing Act as a solution to the harms in elderly care, is being held on the morning of the 22nd in front of the National Assembly Main Building in Yeouido, Seoul. The event is organized by the Korean Nurses Association and the National Movement Headquarters for the Enactment of the Nursing Act. Photo by Yonhap News

There is also criticism that the Nursing Act could threaten the jobs of other healthcare professions such as nursing assistants, care workers, radiologists, clinical pathologists, health information managers, and emergency medical technicians. Nurses already cross over into other professions' duties, and there are concerns that the situation could worsen if the Nursing Act is enacted.

Park Myung-ha, Emergency Response Committee Chair of the Korean Medical Association, called the Nursing Act a "nurse privilege law." On the 5th, on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' he pointed out, "(The Nursing Act) prioritizes the treatment of nurses alone while infringing on the rights of weaker professions such as nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, clinical pathologists, and radiologists." He particularly criticized Article 1 of the Nursing Act bill, noting that "(Nurses) included 'community' in the bill not only to improve their treatment but also to expand their own domain."

On the other hand, the nursing community maintains that concerns about infringing on other professions' rights were all resolved during the review process of the Nursing Act bill. They also emphasize that the Nursing Act is essential to prevent a 'care gap' amid accelerating population aging.

The Korean Nurses Association issued an appeal on the 30th of last month, stating, "Like child care in our country, the parent care and elderly care systems are old and inadequate in many places," and added, "As the enactment of the Basic Child Act is being promoted, enacting a law aimed at 'parent care' is essential in measures addressing low birth rates and population aging."

Currently, the likelihood of the Nursing Act passing the plenary session is high. In February, the bill was directly referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee after being held up for over eight months in the Health and Welfare Committee led by the opposition party. Subsequently, on the 23rd of last month, the plenary session passed the request for the Nursing Act bill with 166 votes in favor, 94 against, 1 abstention, and 1 invalid vote out of 262 members present.

However, even if the Nursing Act passes the National Assembly, President Yoon Suk-yeol may exercise his right to request reconsideration (veto) of the bill. Earlier, President Yoon returned the Grain Management Act amendment, which the Democratic Party forcibly passed in the National Assembly plenary session on the 4th, back to the Assembly. At the Cabinet meeting on the 4th, President Yoon expressed regret over the Grain Act amendment, saying, "It is very regrettable that it was unilaterally passed in the National Assembly without proper debate," and indicated that he would not accept the bill processed without bipartisan agreement.

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