Korea to draw up guidelines for medical accident investigations after ER search
Version 2: The government has now responded: the Health Ministry and the National Police Agency held a working meeting on October 6, and Health Minister Chung Eun-kyung said on October 7 that guidelines for investigations and searches in essential medical settings will be drawn up reflecting the medical community's position.
In short
Police searched the pediatric emergency medical center and pediatrics department at Ajou University Hospital on September 30 as part of an investigation into the July death of an infant. After medical groups and lawmakers from both main parties criticised the search, Health Minister Chung Eun-kyung said on October 7 that the government will prepare guidelines for investigations and searches in essential medical settings. The documents give no date for the guidelines, no police response and differ on the infant's age.
Read the full story 3 min read
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Police Agency will prepare guidelines for investigations and searches in essential medical settings, Health Minister Chung Eun-kyung said on October 7. Speaking at a National Assembly health and welfare committee audit, Chung said the ministry held a working meeting with the police on October 6 and agreed to draw up guidelines reflecting the medical community's position, adding that they would be made “quickly,” according to Kyunghyang Shinmun, Chosun Ilbo, Newsis and Yonhap. The ministry said the two sides agreed on the need to create an environment in which staff in high-risk essential care can work without unnecessary anxiety. Son Young-rae, the ministry's director for regional essential public health, said continued coordination with the police was needed to sustain fields such as pediatric emergency care, Seoul Economic Daily and Newsis reported. [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
The dispute followed a search by the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency of the pediatric emergency medical center and pediatrics department at Ajou University Hospital on September 30, Seoul Economic Daily reported. The search relates to the death of an infant who was receiving outpatient care at the hospital on July 15, showed symptoms including breathing difficulty, was moved to the pediatric emergency medical center and died, the outlet said. The family filed a complaint alleging medical negligence, it added. Maeil Business reported that the infant was five months old. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
Medical groups criticised the search. The National Council of Medical School Professors said on October 6 that a direct search of a treatment space tied to life should be a last resort, and asked for a clear explanation of what evidence required entering the emergency space about two months after the incident, Chosun Ilbo and Maeil Business reported. The council said unavoidable complications must be distinguished from actual medical negligence and warned that pediatric care, already short of staff, could shrink further. Maeil Business reported that the Korean Medical Association issued a similar call on October 2 and the resident group NGP on October 3. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the Korean Society of Pediatric Emergency Medicine called the use of a search warrant against a hospital that had cooperated “excessive.” [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 9 ]
Politicians from both main parties also called for rules. Yonhap reported that Democratic Party spokesperson Shin Hyun-young, a doctor, said the truth of a medical accident must be established thoroughly but that the method of investigation must not threaten other patients being treated at that moment, and called for clear standards and manuals. People Power Party Rep. Baek Jong-heon and five other health and welfare committee members said the hospital reported that a six-month-old critically ill infant was receiving emergency treatment at the bed being inspected, and urged police to disclose what measures were taken to protect patients. The meeting between the ministry and the police cited the purpose of amended laws on medical dispute mediation and emergency medical care, which cover exemption from criminal liability for medical staff, Seoul Economic Daily and Newsis reported. [ 3 ]
The documents contain no response from police to the criticism and no explanation of what evidence they sought inside the emergency treatment space. Outlets also differ on the deceased infant's age: Seoul Economic Daily and Kyunghyang Shinmun described a four-month-old, while Maeil Business and Newsis said five months. No date has been given for the guidelines. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
Why it matters
The dispute reopens friction between the government and the medical profession about a year after trainees returned to hospitals and the health crisis alert was lifted, as Maeil Business noted. The announced guidelines would set national standards for how police conduct searches in hospitals during medical accident investigations, a question medical groups say affects whether doctors stay in pediatric and other essential care.
Key facts
- Police searched the pediatric emergency medical center and pediatrics department at Ajou University Hospital on September 30 in connection with the death of an infant in July. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it held a working meeting with the National Police Agency on October 6 on improving medical accident investigation procedures in essential medical fields. [ 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- Health Minister Chung Eun-kyung said on October 7 that guidelines on investigations and searches in essential medical settings will be drawn up reflecting the medical community's position. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The National Council of Medical School Professors said in an October 6 statement that searches of emergency treatment spaces should be a last resort and must not disrupt care for other patients. [ 1 , 2 , 7 ]
- The Korean Medical Association, the resident group NGP and the Korean Society of Pediatric Emergency Medicine also criticised the search. [ 2 , 7 , 9 ]
- Ruling and opposition lawmakers called for investigation standards and manuals so that searches do not interfere with emergency care, and for police to disclose what patient-protection measures were taken. [ 3 ]
- The ministry and police cited the purpose of amended laws on medical dispute mediation and emergency medical care, which cover exemption from criminal liability for medical staff in essential care. [ 5 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Police searched the pediatric emergency medical center and pediatrics department at Ajou University Hospital on September 30 as part of the investigation into the death of an infant in July. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it held a working meeting with the National Police Agency on October 6 to discuss improving medical accident investigation procedures in essential medical fields. [ 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- Health Minister Chung Eun-kyung said on October 7 that guidelines covering investigations and searches in essential medical fields will be drawn up reflecting the medical community's views. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The National Council of Medical School Professors said in an October 6 statement that searches of emergency treatment spaces should be a last resort and must not disrupt care for other patients. [ 1 , 2 , 7 ]
- The Korean Medical Association, the resident group NGP and the Korean Society of Pediatric Emergency Medicine also criticised the search. [ 2 , 7 , 9 ]
- Ruling and opposition politicians called for investigation standards and manuals so that searches do not interfere with emergency care. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- The age of the infant whose death is under investigation Two outlets describe a four-month-old and two describe a five-month-old; the documents give no clarification.
- What evidence police needed to secure inside the emergency treatment space and what patient-protection measures they took Medical groups and lawmakers asked for an explanation, and the documents contain no answer or statement from police.
- When the announced guidelines will take effect and what they will cover The minister said the guidelines would be made “quickly,” but no date, scope or start date is given in the documents.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- July 15: an infant receiving outpatient care at Ajou University Hospital showed symptoms including breathing difficulty, was moved to the pediatric emergency medical center for emergency treatment and died, according to Seoul Economic Daily. [ 5 , 9 ]
- September 30: police searched the hospital's pediatric emergency medical center and pediatrics department. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- October 2: the Korean Medical Association called for investigation standards that avoid disrupting treatment. [ 2 ]
- October 3: the resident group NGP said excessive investigation and criminal punishment burdens discourage emergency care. [ 2 ]
- October 6: the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Police Agency hold a working meeting on medical accident investigation procedures. [ 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- October 6: Chosun Ilbo reports the medical school professors' council statement criticising the search. [ 1 ]
- October 6: Maeil Business reports that medical school professors joined the criticism. [ 2 ]
- October 6: Yonhap reports that ruling and opposition lawmakers called for investigation standards. [ 3 ]
- October 7: Seoul Economic Daily reports the ministry's announcement of the October 6 working meeting. [ 5 ]
- October 7: Kyunghyang Shinmun reports Health Minister Chung Eun-kyung's remarks at the National Assembly audit. [ 9 ]