Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting... Advance Notice of License Suspension Announced
"Freedom Comes with Responsibility... Strict Measures for Failure to Fulfill Duties"
"White Coat Symbolizes Life... Responsibility Lies with Doctors Who Undermine Its Value"
The government has warned once again of administrative sanctions under the Medical Service Act, stating that it has "secured evidence against over 7,000 non-returning residents." The government plans to issue prior notices of license suspension to those who have ignored requests to return, likely starting with residents who led the collective action, considering administrative capacity and the medical service gap.
On the morning of the 5th, the government held a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for doctors' collective action at the Government Complex Sejong, expressing a firm intention to strictly take action "in accordance with laws and principles against residents who have failed to fulfill their duties as medical professionals responsible for protecting the lives and health of the public."
Lee Han-kyung, the 2nd General Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, who presided over the meeting, said in his opening remarks, "The government is conducting inspections on-site today as well as yesterday to verify violations of the work commencement order by non-returning residents," adding, "The government deeply regrets that a significant number of residents have still not returned."
The government's resolve to adhere to laws and principles was clearly conveyed. Coordinator Lee stated, "Freedom always comes with responsibility," and added, "From now on, the government will strictly take action in accordance with laws and principles against residents who have failed to fulfill their duties as medical professionals responsible for protecting the lives and health of the public."
He also expressed a commitment to medical reform. Coordinator Lee said, "Along with pursuing administrative sanctions for violations, we will steadfastly complete medical reforms to normalize the abnormal medical environment that has accumulated over time," promising, "Even if the illegal collective action by some doctors prolongs, we will maintain an emergency medical system focused on emergency and severe cases and expand substitute personnel as much as possible to minimize confusion at hospital sites."
He also called for ethical awareness among non-returning residents. "The doctor's 'white coat' is a symbol of life and hope to patients," he said, adding, "The government once again emphasizes that it will provide appropriate compensation to medical staff who care for patients with hard work, and will hold accountable doctors who abandon patients as a group under the pretext of personal freedom, thereby throwing away the value of the 'white coat'."
The government plans to visit training hospitals where residents belong to check their return status again today, following the previous day. So far, the government has confirmed over 8,000 residents who have left their workplaces, and after the final confirmation of their non-return status, it plans to proceed with administrative sanctions such as a 'three-month license suspension.' According to government data, as of the 29th of last month, work commencement orders were issued to 9,438 residents at 100 major training hospitals. Among them, 7,854 residents were confirmed by each training hospital to have disobeyed the orders.
However, the plan is to start sanctions with those who led this collective action. Since there is no administrative capacity to sanction all 8,000 residents at once, and considering the current medical service gap and the possibility of their return, the government is expected to take sequential measures. Park Min-su, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, also predicted, "License suspensions are likely to be carried out sequentially," and warned, "We will take strict and swift action against key figures involved in the collective action that caused confusion in the medical field."
The problem is that as the conflict between the government and medical professionals deepens, the return of residents who left hospitals is minimal. Even interns and residents who are supposed to join are increasingly refusing appointments, making the group of doctors involved in the collective action appear to be growing.
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