A Caregiver Pushes the Forehead Saying "Lie Down, Lie Down!"... Terminal Cancer Patient Pleads Desperately

"Feeling Guilty Thinking About the Pain My Father Endured"

A caregiver of a terminal cancer patient assaults the patient in bed. / Photo by YouTube 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] An incident occurred where a caregiver assaulted a frail patient with terminal cancer, taking advantage of the absence of a guardian due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The daughter of Mr. A, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer last August and is currently undergoing treatment, reported the caregiver's assault along with related footage during an interview on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 19th.

In the footage, male caregiver Mr. B repeatedly hits Mr. A's body with his fist or palm while shouting "Lie down, lie down!" as Mr. A tries to steady himself on the hospital bed.

In another video, caregiver Mr. B pushes Mr. A's forehead to make him fall while telling him to lie down as he is sitting. The footage also shows Mr. A pleading with both hands.

Mr. A's daughter explained, "We hired the caregiver on November 30 last year. He (Mr. B) said he had worked at a rehabilitation hospital two years ago and did well, so we trusted that and entrusted him with caregiving. Due to COVID-19, hospital visits were restricted, so we had to rely entirely on the caregiver."

She added, "Later, I received a call from an unknown number reporting, 'Your father is being verbally and physically abused at the hospital. It's so pitiful and heartbreaking,' which is how I found out about the assault."

Upon learning about the caregiver's assault, Mr. A's daughter said, "I couldn't speak. It felt like the sky was falling and my heart was being torn apart. Thinking about the pain my father endured made me feel guilty and like I had caused him harm, and I couldn't bear it."

Mr. A's family immediately filed a police complaint against Mr. B. The hospital where the patient was admitted took measures to prevent Mr. B from working there any longer. However, it is reported that he can still work as a caregiver at other hospitals.

However, Mr. B denied the assault charges and reportedly sought a settlement through his lawyer. In a phone conversation provided by Mr. A's daughter, Mr. B explained, "I am innocent. Nothing like that happened. I only removed the nasal tube and laid him down by pressing his forehead. The elder was trying to get off the bed, so I told him not to."

Mr. A's daughter said, "Because of COVID-19, visits are not allowed at all, so families who entrust patients to caregivers they personally find and hospitals have no choice but to trust them completely," adding, "I hope the government will actively manage and supervise caregivers as part of welfare policy."