[Inside Chodong] Doctors' Ethics Thrown Into the Streets

An unprecedented administrative and judicial process against resident doctors is about to begin. It has been four days since the deadline for the collective resignation of residents to return was notified, and despite the government's weekend plea for 'leniency' and urging them to return, the doctors ultimately turned their backs on the public.

The government's hope for a window of dialogue has also vanished. Although there was a mood to observe their return movements with some leeway until the Samiljeol holiday, they instead took to the streets for a "general rally," declaring a fight to the end by saying, "The government keeps pushing us doctors, but there will be no deviation from the path we have currently chosen."

Thinking about the unfolding situation sends chills down the spine. According to the government's will, those who do not return will face a minimum three-month license suspension. Those who disobey the work commencement order will be subject to imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won. Considering that the police conducted a search and seizure just three days after the Ministry of Health and Welfare's complaint, it is quite possible that about 10,000 resident doctors in Korea will be investigated or have their licenses suspended.

However, the public's fatigue and patience have already reached their limits. Last weekend, some doctors posted online a 'meme' image showing a bird wearing a doctor's gown being harassed during treatment, intending to use it in a public opinion battle, but it only added to patients' backlash. The public's true feelings are reflected in complaints like "Now I understand what kind of mindset the residents have had toward patients," in response to the explanation attached by residents that they are "essential medical personnel who must continue working under the work commencement order."

Such behavior, neglecting the calling of doctors, is also breaking the will of fellow healthcare workers who remain on the front lines. They express burnout and even say, "It feels like we are dying in the line of duty, not resigning." To fill the doctor shortage, related medical acts have been temporarily legalized to allow Physician Assistant (PA) nurses to partially take on doctors' roles, so it is already a state of emergency.

In such circumstances, the government must maintain a firm stance against doctors' behavior that holds patients' lives and public health hostage. The current crisis is partly due to the government repeatedly failing to overcome doctors' collective selfishness in past events such as the 2000 separation of prescribing and dispensing, the 2014 opposition to telemedicine, and the 2020 opposition to increasing medical school quotas. Even if the government immediately increases medical school quotas, considering the training period, a smooth doctor supply system will only be established in about ten years.

In fact, the government has already offered unprecedented privileges worldwide. These include plans to increase fees by more than 10 trillion won in essential medical fields and a special law allowing sentence reductions even if a patient dies during essential medical treatment, aiming to appease doctors.

Now, the government's remaining cards are the 'increase of medical school quotas by 2,000' and the 'establishment of the rule of law.' Legal responsibility must be strictly imposed on doctors' illegal acts who refuse to return to patients. If concessions and relief measures are offered again, it will only serve to further protect the medical profession's job security rather than medical reform.

Last week, Kim Jeong-eun, dean of Seoul National University College of Medicine, emphasized to graduates that "for doctors to be a noble profession, it must be a profession that fulfills social responsibilities, not one with a high economic status." Although these individuals lack both professional and ethical consciousness, if they want to regain public trust and protect their rights even now, they must not ignore their mentor's advice. / Social Affairs Department Deputy Chief Bae Gyeong-hwan

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