KMA Condemns Government for Issuing 'Work Commencement Orders' by Visiting Residents of Residents

"의협, the Only Legal Medical Organization Including All Medical Professions"
"Government Announcement on 'Medical Accident Handling Special Act' Lacks Effectiveness"

The medical community condemned the government for filing police complaints against current and former executives of the Korean Medical Association and for issuing work commencement orders at the homes of residents who had submitted their resignation letters.

Joo Suho, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee for Public Relations of the Korean Medical Association, is holding a regular briefing at the KMA Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Choi Taewon peaceful1@

The KMA Emergency Response Committee held a regular briefing at 2 p.m. on the 28th at the KMA headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, announcing this. Joo Su-ho, the KMA Emergency Committee's Public Relations Officer, stated, "Despite the government's threat that there would be no punishment if residents returned by the 29th, the residents showed no movement. Consequently, the government filed police complaints against five current and former KMA executives for violations of the Medical Service Act and for instigating and aiding obstruction of business," adding, "Eventually, the government began intimidating residents by visiting the homes of resident representatives at each training hospital and issuing direct work commencement orders."

He continued, "Watching the government's unreasonable complaints and intimidation, we cannot hide our deep sorrow," and added, "If the government intensifies complaints and punishments against residents starting March 1, residents will become an entity that can no longer be found in hospitals across the Republic of Korea."

There was also a rebuttal to the government's questioning of the KMA's representativeness. Officer Joo explained, "The KMA is the only legally recognized medical organization in Korea with all 140,000 doctors registered as members," adding, "Its membership includes residents, private practitioners, professors, and employed doctors, and the Emergency Committee was formed through resolutions passed by delegates from all these sectors." He then retorted, "Does the government not recognize the legitimacy of a government elected by the people with only a 30% approval rating?"

Earlier, a Yongsan Presidential Office official said at a briefing that "Since last week, medical school professors, major hospital directors, and resident representatives have been in behind-the-scenes talks with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, but the government feels that although the medical community claims that the KMA represents the medical sector, upon contact and listening, the KMA is unlikely to have representativeness."

The government’s recently announced Medical Accident Handling Special Act was also criticized. Officer Joo stated, "This bill only allows compensation from insurance if the individual doctor has joined liability and comprehensive insurance and the patient or guardian consents, and it prohibits prosecution," adding, "Fatal accidents are only subject to mitigation, and the exceptions include many cases of unintentional negligence, rendering the law ineffective."

He further said, "Through the mandatory designation system of the National Health Insurance, the state forces doctors and medical institutions to provide insured medical services, but the government expects individual doctors to pool money and compensate through insurance for disputes arising from this process, which means the government takes no responsibility," adding, "There is no consideration that most cases currently proceed to lawsuits due to lack of consent from patients or guardians, and it is an absurd bill that excludes fatal accidents and non-intentional negligence from protection."

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