Prostate Surgery Patient Dies Suddenly Next Day, Hospital Director Punished... 'What Medication Was Used in the Emergency?' [Seocho-dong Legal Story]

Death from 'Anaphylaxis Shock' Due to Antibiotics
Court: "Emergency Treatment Process Was Problematic"... Hospital Ordered to Compensate
Hospital Director Who Ordered Medication Sentenced to Probation with Imprisonment Suspended

It was an unexpected urology medical accident. In July 2018, a man in his 60s, Mr. A, visited a urology specialist hospital in Seoul due to urinary difficulties and erectile dysfunction. The hospital recommended surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and Mr. A underwent the operation three days later. The next day, he returned for additional treatment but suddenly complained of itching all over his body, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. Medical staff attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and urgently called 119, but Mr. A passed away shortly after being transferred to another hospital's emergency room.

The National Forensic Service's autopsy revealed the cause of death as 'anaphylactic shock' caused by antibiotics. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic hypersensitivity reaction triggered by specific substances in the body. If treated promptly, recovery is possible without issues, but delayed diagnosis and treatment can be life-threatening. The medical staff had administered antibiotics diluted in normal saline on both the day of surgery and the day of death. Mr. A's breathing difficulties occurred less than five minutes after receiving the last antibiotic injection. Mr. A's wife and two children filed a lawsuit seeking damages totaling approximately 258 million won, claiming that the medical staff caused Mr. A's death. The hospital responded, "The skin reaction test conducted before administering the antibiotics showed a negative result. It was an unforeseeable accident," and insisted, "Emergency measures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and calling 119 were appropriately performed."

The court ruled that the hospital must pay approximately 179 million won plus delayed interest. The court first stated, "The autopsy did not show any traces of the skin reaction test," but added, "It is difficult to hold responsibility solely because the test was not performed." The antibiotics administered to Mr. A are generally not recommended for skin reaction testing, and the medical staff had inquired through medical interviews whether he had any previous adverse reactions to antibiotics.

However, the court found issues with the emergency treatment process. The court stated, "The medical staff admitted that they did not administer epinephrine, the most important drug in emergency situations. They claimed to have administered auxiliary drugs such as antihistamines and steroids instead, but the drugs detected in the autopsy were antibiotic components, depression or hypertension medication components, unrelated to the drugs claimed by the hospital," and judged, "Since the necessary drugs were not administered, the medical staff failed to provide adequate emergency treatment expected medically." The court also criticized the failure to explain the potential side effects of antibiotics before administration.

The hospital director, Mr. B, who ordered the antibiotic administration, faced a criminal trial on charges of professional negligence causing death. The prosecutor pointed out, "Although anaphylactic shock could have been sufficiently suspected, the necessary drugs were not administered. Only cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted, leaving Mr. A unattended for several minutes." Mr. B admitted to the charges during the criminal trial. According to legal circles on the 25th, Judge Kim Gil-ho of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 11 recently sentenced Mr. B to one year in prison with a two-year probation. Judge Kim stated, "Patients entrust their lives and bodies to doctors' professional judgment and knowledge. If a doctor neglects their duty of care in their work, they must be held strictly accountable," and added, "The bereaved family, who suffered irreparable mental shock and pain, petitioned for severe punishment of Mr. B, who committed medical negligence."

However, Judge Kim also noted, "This was an accident that occurred in a specialized medical field inherently accompanied by risks," and "Considering that damages were paid in the related civil lawsuit and that Mr. B additionally deposited 50 million won," he added.

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