Prosecutors Indict Doctor for Illegal Use of 'Second Propofol' in 5,071 Cases and Detain

"Strict Non-Tolerance Policy Applied to Healthcare Professionals' Illegal Handling of Narcotics"

Doctor A has been indicted and detained for indiscriminately selling etomidate, a general anesthetic known as the "second propofol."

From September 2019 to June 2024, A is accused of selling and administering etomidate 5,071 times to 75 propofol addicts, receiving a total of 1.2 billion KRW over approximately five years.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 23rd, the Special Investigation Team on Drug Crimes at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Boseong) announced that Doctor A was indicted while in custody on charges of illegal sale of etomidate. The prosecution applied charges including violation of the Special Act on the Control of Health Crimes (illegal medical practitioner), violation of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, and violation of the Medical Service Act.

A is accused of illegally selling etomidate from September 2019 to last June, including administering etomidate to a man in his 30s, B, who threatened another person with a weapon during a dispute while parking a Lamborghini in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in September last year.

The prosecution pointed out, "Unlike propofol, etomidate is not designated as a psychotropic drug, so it is not subject to management and supervision by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. This was exploited to abuse and administer the drug repeatedly to addicts such as those addicted to propofol for profit."

They added, "There are concerns about side effects such as apnea, hyperventilation, and cardiovascular abnormalities, and nurse assistants were allowed to inject this anesthetic, which should only be administered by doctors, thereby endangering patients' lives." The prosecution stated, "We will apply a zero-tolerance policy and respond strictly to acts of illegally handling medical narcotics by abusing medical qualifications."