Resident Representative "Hope Government Restores Broken Trust Between Doctors"
Seoul Medical Students Present Government Demands Including 'Cancellation of Medical School Expansion'
The representative of residents at Seoul National University Hospital and the president of the Seoul National University College of Medicine student council criticized the government's lack of communication and urged the creation of an environment where they can be by the patients' side.
On the afternoon of the 30th, Park Jae-il, the representative resident of Seoul National University Hospital, who attended the emergency symposium of the Seoul National University College of Medicine-Seoul National University Hospital Faculty Council's emergency committee held at Cheil Jedang Hall of Seoul National University Hospital, is shedding tears after finishing his presentation on behalf of the residents. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 30th at 1:30 PM, Park Jae-il, the representative of residents at Seoul National University Hospital, and Kim Min-ho, the president of the Seoul National University College of Medicine student council, stated this at the emergency symposium of the Seoul National University College of Medicine-Seoul National University Hospital Faculty Council Emergency Committee. Park Jae-il said, "Although residents are limited in power, as doctors, we strive to raise our voices on-site regarding the proper direction of the healthcare system for the people," adding, "However, the government announced a policy that could completely overturn the medical system without even basic review of opinions after giving a principled answer that nothing was decided regarding the medical school quota at the residents' meeting on December 27 last year."
He also argued that their basic freedoms as citizens of the Republic of Korea were taken away. Park said, "Residents are workers. Workers are guaranteed legitimate rights and freedoms in a democratic society as citizens of the Republic of Korea," and added, "The government suppressed freedom of occupational choice through an order prohibiting acceptance of resignation letters, announced plans to punish with license revocation and the maximum legal penalty if orders such as work commencement and medical treatment orders were resisted, and continuously oppressed residents."
He then urged the government to create an environment where they can be by the patients' side. He said, "The government is destroying a trusting relationship with the medical community through poor communication and arrogance, demonizing residents through the media, and breaking the trust relationship with the public," and continued, "If there are undesirable specialties, I hope the system is improved to create an environment where all residents can apply with conviction. When discussing medical policies, I want doctors who only know patients to be treated sincerely and for the broken trust between the government and doctors to be rebuilt."
Kim Min-ho, the student council president, also questioned the government's willingness to communicate. He said, "Student representatives from each school planned to convey the voices from the educational field without distortion through meetings with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, but the meeting was postponed unilaterally by the ministry and eventually canceled," adding, "I doubt whether the Ministry of Health and Welfare truly intended to listen to the students' voices."
Subsequently, they announced eight demands to the government, including ▲ complete withdrawal of the essential medical policy package and medical school quota increase ▲ formation of a consensus body with equal representation of medical professionals and government ▲ acknowledgment of hasty medical policy implementation and a public apology ▲ introduction of a medical malpractice liability system considering the special nature of medical practice ▲ introduction of a rational fee system and minimum increase rate system ▲ proposal of alternatives to establish a medical delivery system ▲ discussion to improve the training environment for residents ▲ withdrawal of abuse of public authority regarding leave of absence applications.
Additionally, the faculty side also demanded an apology from the government toward them. Bang Jae-seung, chairman of the Seoul National University College of Medicine-Seoul National University Hospital Faculty Council Emergency Committee, said, "Before requesting residents to return, the government should apologize to residents and medical students for slandering them as bad people for leaving patients."
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