'Vaccine Hostage' Korean Medical Association and Ruling and Opposition Parties Take Strong Measures... Accelerating Re-promotion of Operating Room CCTV

7 out of 10 Citizens
Support Revoking Medical Licenses for Prison Sentences or Higher
Ruling and Opposition Parties, Previously in Extreme Conflict, Now United
Discussion on Mandatory Surgery Room CCTV Gains Momentum

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun, Geum Bo-ryeong] As public opinion in favor of revoking the medical licenses of doctors sentenced to imprisonment or higher intensifies, both ruling and opposition parties are determined to push through the amendment to the Medical Service Act despite collective opposition from the medical community. Alongside this, a bill mandating the installation of CCTV in operating rooms is also facing similar resistance, and efforts are underway to pass both bills simultaneously, drawing close attention to the outcome.

68% of the Public Support Medical Service Act Amendment... Political Sphere Accelerates Legislation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After the Medical Service Act amendment passed the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) threatened a “general strike” and a “vaccine inoculation boycott.” This appears to be a strategy exploiting the political sphere’s vulnerability, which cannot ignore the medical community’s stance amid the COVID-19 situation. However, both ruling and opposition parties are maintaining a strong stance. There is no disagreement between the two sides on passing the bill through the “Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 25th → plenary session on the 26th” procedure.

On the 24th, Kim Sung-joo, the ruling party’s secretary of the Health and Welfare Committee, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, “The Medical Service Act amendment was thoroughly reviewed in the standing committee to create a reasonable bill considering public safety, common sense, and fairness. (Since it has moved to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee) it is out of our hands now. If there are any objections, they can be submitted publicly or privately, and if there is room for reflection, discussions will take place there.”

The Medical Service Act amendment, which passed the Health and Welfare Committee on the 19th, includes provisions to revoke the licenses of doctors sentenced to imprisonment or higher. If a doctor receives a prison sentence, reissuance of the license is prohibited for five years after the sentence is completed; for suspended sentences, reissuance is prohibited for two years after the suspension period ends. Reflecting the unique nature of medical work, the bill exempts license revocation for medical malpractice punishable during medical practice. However, the KMA opposes the amendment, arguing it could create “innocent victims.” They insist that the decision to revoke medical licenses should remain under the KMA’s autonomous regulatory authority.

The ruling party’s stance is firm. Shin Hyun-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former doctor, criticized in a phone interview, “If there could be innocent victims, the KMA should have negotiated during the bill’s review process to adjust specific provisions. The bill was proposed in June last year and discussed in the subcommittee since December. The KMA had many opportunities to express their opinions but did not.” The opposition party’s position is not significantly different. Kang Ki-yoon, the opposition party’s secretary of the Health and Welfare Committee, said in a phone interview, “There will be doctors’ backlash, but how much public support it will gain remains a challenge.”

Continuous Passage Expected for Laws Strengthening Medical Consumer Rights

The political sphere’s strong stance on the Medical Service Act amendment is influenced by public opinion trends. According to a Realmeter survey commissioned by OhmyNews on the 23rd, targeting 500 men and women nationwide aged 18 and older, 68.5% responded in favor of the amendment, 26.0% opposed it, and 5.5% were unsure. The margin of error for this survey is ±4.4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. For more details, refer to the Realmeter website or the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.

Meanwhile, within the Health and Welfare Committee, the bill mandating the installation of CCTV in operating rooms is also gaining momentum. The KMA opposes CCTV installation, citing concerns over human rights violations and privacy surveillance. Kim Sung-joo expressed support for the CCTV installation during a recent party floor meeting, emphasizing the necessity of passing the bill. This bill faces opposition from the opposition party and requires internal party coordination, so discussions are expected to intensify in the March National Assembly session. Kim said, “We will discuss with the People Power Party while considering opinions from other lawmakers, the government, and party leadership.”