"Smooth Treatment? Yoon, Just Come for 1 Hour and See," Emergency Room Professor's Anger

"Chuseok Consultation Fee Increase? Medical Staff Already Fully Burned Out"

Amid growing concerns about medical service gaps due to prolonged conflicts in the medical community, Professor Namgung In of the Emergency Medicine Department at Ewha Mokdong Hospital criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol, who claimed that the emergency medical system is operating smoothly, saying, "If you just come for 1 or 2 hours, you would understand."

On the 30th, Professor Namgung stated on SBS Radio's 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show,' "I haven't quit my job, but because there is a shortage of doctors and people are dying, I am working myself to exhaustion; this is not because I am devoted to medical reform," and pointed out that "the statement is too far from reality."

He added, "Since we are a regional center that handles severe patients, even excluding two interns, about three residents and specialists should be working to manage the situation," but "for the past six months, I have been on duty alone. I am indescribably tired," he lamented.

Professor Namgung said, "Last night, while on duty alone, five patients arrived within an hour: two cardiac arrest patients, and one each suspected of cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, and myocardial infarction," and explained, "According to protocol, these five patients should be divided among doctors, but since there were no other doctors, I treated them all alone." He continued, "Fortunately, all five survived, but even if they had just passed away, there would have been nothing I could do," adding, "If one of the two cardiac arrest patients experiences another cardiac arrest or loses consciousness, I would be completely unable to respond, resulting in death. This is extremely dangerous medical practice."

He predicted that the upcoming Chuseok holiday would see an increase in emergency patients, leading to a so-called 'emergency room crisis.' Professor Namgung said, "During Chuseok, the number of patients increases by at least 150%. After working during Chuseok, I almost have no memory of it," and added, "However, we are being asked to handle this alone through negotiations." Regarding the government's plan to support emergency medical care by raising emergency room specialist consultation fees up to 250% during the Chuseok holiday, he said, "We are already completely burned out; just increasing consultation fees won't make us want to work harder during Chuseok," and concluded, "This is not the situation for that."