Gwangju Medical Association: "Representative Lee's Helicopter Transfer Shows Privilege and Hypocrisy"

The Gwangju Medical Association (Gwangju City Medical Association) issued a statement condemning the use of a helicopter to transfer Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was attacked with a weapon in Busan, to Seoul National University Hospital.

On the 5th, the Gwangju Medical Association stated in their statement, "The series of events that occurred during the transfer and treatment process of (Representative Lee Jae-myung) were incomprehensible," and pointed out, "According to the emergency medical system, Representative Lee should have been treated at Busan National University Hospital, a regional trauma center and a top-tier general hospital in the area where the accident occurred. If the patient or guardian requests a transfer, the principle is that the patient should be transferred to a local hospital by regular transportation (not by helicopter)." They continued, "Despite the medical staff at Busan National University Hospital's objections, transferring Representative Lee to Seoul National University Hospital using a 119 emergency helicopter was a typical act immersed in a sense of privilege and a classic example of double standards."

During his visit to Busan, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was stabbed with a weapon, is being transported from the Noryeoldong Helicopter Pad in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to Seoul National University Hospital on the 2nd.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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The Gwangju Medical Association also criticized the use of the helicopter by Representative Lee. They stated that the Democratic Party and Lee Jae-myung deprived other emergency patients of the opportunity to use the helicopter. Furthermore, they criticized the decision to refuse treatment at Busan National University Hospital?which has received the highest grade, A, for four consecutive years in the regional trauma center evaluation and is one of the leading hospitals in trauma treatment?and instead transfer to Seoul National University Hospital as a disparagement of regional healthcare.

Additionally, the Gwangju Medical Association took a jab at the Democratic Party. The association said, "The Democratic Party did not hesitate to disparage Busan National University Hospital and regional healthcare by saying that surgery should be done where it is done well," and criticized, "The Democratic Party, which emphasized the need to revitalize regional healthcare and was pushing legislation for the regional doctor system and the establishment of regional public medical schools, has now informed the entire nation through this incident that it has promoted policies it could not even uphold itself."

The Gwangju Medical Association added, "Terrorism or violence cannot be justified for any reason, and we sincerely wish for the speedy recovery of Representative Lee, who suffered a serious accident," but also urged, "We hope that discussions on improving the medical system will be conducted together with the medical community."

Prior to the statement from the Gwangju Medical Association, the Busan Medical Association also issued a statement on the 4th, condemning the Democratic Party of Korea for "disregarding regional healthcare and trampling on the medical delivery system," and demanded an immediate apology from the Democratic Party to local citizens and medical professionals.

The Busan Medical Association said, "If the patient's condition was very critical, surgery should have been performed at Busan National University Hospital, the regional top-tier general hospital, and if not, the patient should have been transferred to a local general hospital by regular transportation, not by helicopter," adding, "This is the national trauma emergency medical system and the medical delivery system that all citizens must comply with." They further criticized, "Jeong Cheong-rae, a Supreme Council member, ranked medical institutions and created division between local areas and the metropolitan area by saying, 'It seems surgery should be done at a hospital that does it well.' After this, does the Democratic Party even have the right to discuss the collapse of local healthcare and the shortage of essential medical services?"

The Seoul Medical Association also issued a statement on the 5th titled "Lee Jae-myung’s preferential helicopter transfer must be thoroughly addressed," stating, "The opposition leader ignored treatment at the region’s top severe trauma center in a critical situation. The helicopter transfer was an act of elitism and double standards that bypassed the medical delivery system," demanding an apology and reflection.

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