Two Doctors Who Falsified Official Documents Also Sent to Prosecution
A nurse who self-prescribed and administered psychotropic drugs at Yeoncheon County Medical Center in Gyeonggi Province, along with a former county governor and the medical center director who knew about the incident but did not report it to investigative authorities, have been referred to the prosecution. The dosage varied per individual, with some suspects having taken the drugs once and others multiple times.
The Narcotics Crime Investigation Division of the Criminal Mobile Unit at the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency announced on the 5th that five people, including nurse A, were sent for prosecution on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances).
Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency Building. [Photo by Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency]
Nurse A and others affiliated with Yeoncheon County Medical Center are accused of self-prescribing and taking drug B, known as a diet pill, over a period of one to two years starting in 2019. The drug is classified as a psychotropic appetite suppressant under narcotics control and cannot be obtained without a doctor's prescription. However, it is reported that the nurses prescribed themselves from 30 tablets at a time up to as many as 300 tablets.
Two doctors from the same medical center who provided the necessary charts and other materials for the nurses' self-prescription were also booked on charges of aiding the crime. The nurses' actions were discovered internally within the medical center. The incident was reported to the then medical center director and the then Yeoncheon County governor. However, despite receiving the report, they did not file a complaint with investigative authorities. Under current law, public officials are obligated to report any criminal acts they become aware of during their duties to investigative agencies.
The police reportedly began their investigation after receiving intelligence around late March to early April. All nine individuals booked were judged to have criminal charges and were recently referred to the prosecution.
The medical center director acknowledged receiving the report, while the former county governor of Yeoncheon, who was in office at the time, reportedly stated that his memory of the report was unclear. A police official explained to Yonhap News, "There are statements and physical evidence indicating that the (former Yeoncheon County governor) was informed, and based on this, the criminal facts were proven and the case was sent for prosecution."
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