Cancer patients and others with critical medical conditions on Wednesday demanded the withdrawal of the Seoul National University Hospital doctors’ plan to launch a walkout and warned of reviewing legal actions against them.
Last week, senior doctors at four major hospitals affiliated with SNU announced a decision to indefinitely suspend their hospital operations June 17 in support of trainee doctors who have left their worksites since February against the government’s medical reform plans that involve increasing the medical school enrollment quota.
“The government should punish doctors who commit illegal actions in accordance with law and principles,” said Kim Tae-hyun, chairman of a group for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, during a press conference in front of SNU Hospital in Seoul on Wednesday.
“Medical service disruptions that have lasted for more than 100 days put the lives of patients at risk and sent many patients to death by missing golden hours,” Kim said, claiming that the collecti
ve action is aimed at maintaining their privilege.
Kim Sung-joo, chairman of a major association of patients with critical medical conditions, said that many of its members have called for filing a suit against doctors.
“If there are such requests constantly, we will review such a move,” Kim said, appealing for their return to hospitals and the government’s law revision to hold doctors accountable under such circumstances.
The health care crisis is feared to worsen as the Korea Medical Association, a major lobby group for doctors, decided last week to go on a one-day strike June 18, which could involve community doctors and medical professors.
Despite fierce opposition, the government finalized the increase of the medical school admissions quota by around 1,500 seats late last month in an effort to address the shortage of doctors. It was the first such increase in 27 years.
Following the move, the government suspended administrative steps to punish them in order to persuade junior doctors to return to ho
spitals, but there seems to be no signs of a resolution.
Source: Yonhap News Agency