[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A controversy has arisen after human waste, including feces and urine, poured from the ceiling of a hospital in Seoul, covering a patient's family member.
According to Yonhap News on the 24th, Mr. A, who lives in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, stated, "No matter how much I wash, it feels like my body still smells, so I am receiving psychiatric treatment."
The incident occurred on the 15th in the hallway outside the intensive care unit on the 2nd floor of a famous university hospital in Seoul, where Mr. A's mother was hospitalized. At the time, Mr. A was waiting for his mother when suddenly waste poured down from the ceiling, covering him.
According to photos provided by Mr. A, Yonhap News reported that a considerable amount of waste clumps and sewage had spread across the floor. As a result, a strong foul odor permeated the area, and some of the waste even flowed into the intensive care unit.
The accident is known to have occurred due to a blockage in the hospital's sewage pipe, causing various wastes from the restroom to backflow. The waste eventually burst through, damaging the ceiling finish.
Mr. A, who was covered in waste, expressed particular anger at the hospital's inadequate response. Despite the waste splattering on his head and arms and the severe odor, nurses and staff present at the scene reportedly left without offering any assistance.
Furthermore, Mr. A contacted the call center but was unable to reach anyone, and it was only after an hour that he was able to wash briefly in the operating room shower. Later, when his mother was discharged on the 18th, Mr. A requested an apology from the hospital, but according to Yonhap News, he was only contacted the next day with an offer to cover laundry costs.
Mr. A lamented, "This was an accident that could have caused casualties if the ceiling had collapsed, but the response from the country's top-tier hospital, which tried to brush it off with just a phone call, was truly deplorable. Due to the psychological shock, I feel uneasy just looking at the ceiling inside the building."
Meanwhile, the hospital explained to Yonhap News that although they tried to apologize and compensate Mr. A's family, there were difficulties in communication, and they did not lack the intention to apologize.
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