Rep. Lee So-hee of the People Power Party criticized the lack of transparency regarding medical malpractice records, stating on July 29, "It is a gap in information that is out of touch with common sense that patients cannot verify even when a court has confirmed serious criminal responsibility."
During a forum titled "The Public Should Know About Medical Malpractice Records" held at the National Assembly, she noted, "Even if a doctor is sentenced to prison for negligent homicide during medical procedures, that alone does not lead to the revocation of their license," adding that patients have no public means to check such records.
Lee, who became paralyzed from the waist down due to a medical accident at the age of 15, argued for reforms that would allow patients to verify the medical malpractice history of healthcare providers before entrusting their care. She emphasized, "Medical treatment is a contract where patients entrust their bodies to a single provider," pointing out that while a healthcare provider's career can be easily verified, it is difficult to confirm serious criminal records related to medical malpractice.
She stressed that disclosing medical malpractice histories is a minimal measure to reduce information asymmetry, enabling patients to choose healthcare providers on a more equal footing and enter into fair medical contracts.
During the discussion, participants suggested limiting the disclosure to "objectively verified serious records" and called for clear legal definitions regarding the duration and scope of disclosures, as well as procedures for prior notification, clarification, appeals, and information correction. Shin Hyun-doo, head of the Medical Institution Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, expressed support for disclosing cases of sexual crimes and intentional medical offenses during treatment.
Lee plans to pursue amendments to relevant laws based on the opinions presented at the forum. The proposed amendments will include provisions for providing patients with objective serious records while protecting the rights of healthcare providers.
Meanwhile, Lee expressed disappointment that the Korean Medical Association, the Korean Hospital Association, and the Korean Intern Association did not attend despite her multiple requests to hear their concerns and opinions regarding the related system.
In this context, she expressed regret to the three organizations while stating, "I will keep the door open for dialogue," urging them to participate in public discussions to identify issues, determine the extent of disclosures, and propose measures to protect healthcare providers' rights."
During a forum titled "The Public Should Know About Medical Malpractice Records" held at the National Assembly, she noted, "Even if a doctor is sentenced to prison for negligent homicide during medical procedures, that alone does not lead to the revocation of their license," adding that patients have no public means to check such records.
Lee, who became paralyzed from the waist down due to a medical accident at the age of 15, argued for reforms that would allow patients to verify the medical malpractice history of healthcare providers before entrusting their care. She emphasized, "Medical treatment is a contract where patients entrust their bodies to a single provider," pointing out that while a healthcare provider's career can be easily verified, it is difficult to confirm serious criminal records related to medical malpractice.
She stressed that disclosing medical malpractice histories is a minimal measure to reduce information asymmetry, enabling patients to choose healthcare providers on a more equal footing and enter into fair medical contracts.
During the discussion, participants suggested limiting the disclosure to "objectively verified serious records" and called for clear legal definitions regarding the duration and scope of disclosures, as well as procedures for prior notification, clarification, appeals, and information correction. Shin Hyun-doo, head of the Medical Institution Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, expressed support for disclosing cases of sexual crimes and intentional medical offenses during treatment.
Lee plans to pursue amendments to relevant laws based on the opinions presented at the forum. The proposed amendments will include provisions for providing patients with objective serious records while protecting the rights of healthcare providers.
Meanwhile, Lee expressed disappointment that the Korean Medical Association, the Korean Hospital Association, and the Korean Intern Association did not attend despite her multiple requests to hear their concerns and opinions regarding the related system.
In this context, she expressed regret to the three organizations while stating, "I will keep the door open for dialogue," urging them to participate in public discussions to identify issues, determine the extent of disclosures, and propose measures to protect healthcare providers' rights."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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