Opposition: "Law to Cancel Medical Licenses for Violent Crimes... Democratic Party Should Carefully Review"

"Unexpected Dispute Between Democratic Party and Medical Groups Causes Public Anxiety"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The People Power Party expressed concerns regarding the revision of the Medical Service Act that allows the revocation of a doctor's license if they commit violent crimes or sexual offenses, mentioning the timing and other factors.

On the 21st, Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, expressed concern, saying, "The unexpected dispute between the Democratic Party and medical organizations is causing public anxiety."

Spokesperson Bae introduced, "The Democratic Party previously clashed with the medical community over the national medical licensing exam during the COVID-19 crisis," adding, "Eventually, the exam was resumed to supply manpower for overcoming COVID-19."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee passed a revision to the Medical Service Act that expands the regulation requiring the revocation of a doctor's license if sentenced to imprisonment or higher for violating the Medical Service Act, to also include cases where a doctor is sentenced to imprisonment or higher for violating laws outside the Medical Service Act, such as violent crimes or sexual offenses. In response, the Korean Medical Association countered, stating, "We clearly express that this will cause severe resentment among the 130,000 members of the KMA who are protecting the health and lives of the people on the front lines of overcoming the national crisis, including supporting COVID-19 vaccination, and will cause significant obstacles to COVID-19 response."

Regarding this, spokesperson Bae said, "Currently, the medical community is the vanguard fighting our COVID-19 and infectious disease battles," adding, "I am not sure if this is an exact analogy, but during the Korean War, what help would passing a law in the National Assembly to revoke soldiers' qualifications be for the war effort?"

He urged, "At this point, the government and ruling party should carefully consider whether provoking misunderstandings of medical community domination and engaging in a retaliatory battle with the medical community will truly help overcome COVID-19."