"Videos of Patients Falling Asleep While Counting 'One, Two'... Medical Community Warns It's No Laughing Matter"

Recently, so-called "Sedation Endurance Challenge" videos have been spreading online, raising concerns within the medical community. Videos capturing patients counting numbers or trying to endure the effects of sedation right before undergoing procedures such as gastroscopies or skin treatments in hospitals are garnering hundreds of thousands to millions of views on social media platforms and YouTube.

Recently, videos capturing the moments just before sleep anesthesia have been spreading on Instagram in the form of the "Endurance Challenge." Screenshot from Instagram

원본보기 아이콘

On March 13, Yonhap News highlighted the dangers of these "sedation endurance" videos that are circulating on social media. For example, a recent Instagram video showed a patient about to be sedated counting out loud, "one, two, three..." but falling asleep within seconds, a clip that has surpassed 530,000 views. The video shows the patient's eyes glazing over and speech becoming slurred as the anesthesia is administered, prompting laughter from those nearby. These types of videos that capture patients just before undergoing sedation are now rapidly spreading in the form of the "Endure Challenge."

In many cases, patients ask friends or medical staff accompanying them to record these moments. In one YouTube video uploaded in January, a patient begins counting after asking, "Did the drug go in?" as the anesthesia is administered, but after about 20 seconds, their speech trails off and they fall asleep. This video has amassed 1.9 million views.

Another Instagram video, captioned "I will try to endure sedation anesthesia," shows a patient’s eyes losing focus within seconds and has received more than 300,000 views. In some videos, medical staff say, "If you endure for 20 seconds, we’ll give you a complimentary Botox injection," or present the anesthesia process as if it were a game.

Scenes of celebrities undergoing sedation anesthesia have also been broadcast on MBC's I Live Alone, KBS's 2 Days & 1 Night, Hong Kim Dongjeon, and JTBC's web variety show Hal Myungsoo. Screenshot from YouTube

원본보기 아이콘

Cases where patients in a sedated state are used as comedic content have also appeared on television. In 2023, on MBC's entertainment program I Live Alone, cast members underwent sedation for endoscopy procedures, and their incoherent speech immediately after sedation was broadcast. The scene where studio panelists laughed at the cast's slurred words also became a trending topic. Similar scenes of celebrities being sedated have also been aired on KBS's 2 Days & 1 Night, Hong Kim Dongjeon, and JTBC's web entertainment show Hal Myeongsu.

The medical community is concerned that the proliferation of such content could trivialize the risks of sedation anesthesia. According to the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists and Pain Physicians, sedation anesthesia is a medical procedure in which sedatives or hypnotics are administered intravenously to help patients receive procedures comfortably. While it is used even for relatively simple examinations, it can cause side effects such as dizziness, low blood pressure, vomiting, and blurred vision. The greatest risk, however, is respiratory depression. If appropriate measures are not taken, there is a possibility of death, making it essential to continuously monitor the patient’s respiration, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.

A patient receiving an injection of the sedative propofol. Screenshot from SNS

원본보기 아이콘

Heo Jiyeong, a specialist in anesthesiology and pain medicine at a clinic in Sydney, Australia, told Yonhap News, "If these videos continue to spread, the public may come to view sedation anesthesia as a lighthearted event," emphasizing, "Many drugs used in anesthesia are narcotics, so it is essential to closely monitor and manage the patient’s condition."

Furthermore, she pointed out the issue of some videos lacking basic safety devices such as oxygen supply equipment or oxygen saturation monitors. Dr. Heo explained, "Sedation often proceeds without securing the airway, which can lead to acute respiratory depression or laryngospasm," adding, "Although rare, there is a possibility it can result in death."

Controversy over sedation anesthesia has arisen in the past as well. Propofol, which is widely used for sedation, is a drug with a strong sedative effect and is managed as a controlled substance due to the risk of abuse. Illegal administration by celebrities or medical facilities has become a social issue, and the problem of "propofol addiction" has been raised in public discourse. Dr. Heo stated, "There needs to be social discussion about the culture of consuming videos of patients’ loss of consciousness as content for views," warning, "It is not desirable for the dignity of medical professionals and the sanctity of human life to be traded for online popularity."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.