Epilepsy Support Hospital Council Declares Non-Participation in Group Strike

Individual Departments Centered on Consecutive Declarations of Non-Participation

The Epilepsy Support Hospital Council, established by professors specializing in epilepsy, announced that it will not participate in the upcoming collective strike.

Remaining medical staff at the hospital. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Hong Seung-bong, chairman of the council and professor of neurology at Samsung Seoul Hospital, said on the 14th, "Epilepsy is a brain disease where the risk of physical injury and death increases dozens of times if treatment is stopped, so discontinuing medication must never be done," adding, "The council has decided not to participate in the Korean Medical Association's collective strike." The Epilepsy Support Hospital Council is an organization founded by epilepsy professors from 16 university hospitals.

Chairman Hong stated, "Many epilepsy patients and their families are trembling with anxiety and fear, worried that they might not be able to receive their prescriptions due to the Korean Medical Association's announcement of the collective strike," and added, "For patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, suddenly stopping medication increases the mortality rate by 50 to 100 times compared to the general population."

He further explained, "Doctors who lack knowledge about epilepsy and do not treat it find it difficult to prescribe medication, and most antiepileptic drugs cannot be obtained at general pharmacies," adding, "Because a constant blood concentration of antiepileptic drugs must always be maintained, missing even a single dose can cause severe seizures that endanger the patient's life."

Regarding the Korean Medical Association's collective strike, Chairman Hong said, "Doctors, who should care for patients' illnesses and their suffering hearts, must refrain from actions that scare patients and put them in danger," and stated, "They should not cause harm and suffering to severely ill patients who are not at fault; rather, it would be appropriate to oppose the government by sacrificing themselves, such as by shaving their heads and fasting, similar to past democratization struggles."

He continued, "After the resignation of residents, countless severely ill patients and their families have been suffering extreme pain and damage for 115 days," and said, "Medical students and residents should return quickly, and medical organizations should oppose the government through scientific evidence collection and analysis."

He also added, "First, we must save the sick patients and focus on readjusting the medical school quota in 2026 through global information gathering, expert forums, and scientific analysis," warning, "Otherwise, it will be impossible to avoid public outrage nationwide, and furthermore, we will face criticism from medical professionals and residents worldwide."

Meanwhile, as the Korean Medical Association has announced a collective strike on the 18th, declarations of non-participation are emerging, mainly from doctors in individual specialties. The Association of Obstetric Hospitals has stated that it will maintain medical services, and the Korean Society of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine has expressed its intention to keep essential surgical staff at hospitals to support treatment. The Korean Association of Children's Hospitals, which includes over 120 pediatric hospitals nationwide, also expressed sympathy for the Korean Medical Association's struggle but stated that it is difficult to leave patients unattended and will maintain medical services.