Legislative Conflict Enters 6th Month
National Association of Medical School Professors: "President Says Things Are Going Well, Should Ride an Ambulance Personally"
On the 29th, Yonhap News reported that a middle school student suspected of having a cerebral thrombosis waited for over 12 hours without finding a hospital to transfer to, even in an urgent situation. This was due to the collapse of the emergency medical system caused by conflicts between the medical community and the government.
A medical staff member is walking past an ambulance in a large hospital in Seoul city. [Photo by Yonhap News]
A 40-year-old parent, Mr. A, whose child is a middle school student, took his son, who was complaining of a headache, to the emergency room of a secondary hospital in Yeongdo-gu, Busan, around 8:30 p.m. on the 27th. The son was suspected of having a cerebral thrombosis. For an accurate diagnosis, he needed to be transferred to a tertiary hospital, but no hospital accepted him.
Recalling the situation, Mr. A said, "My son needed to be treated by pediatric neurosurgery specialists, but nearby university hospitals said they could not accept him due to a shortage of medical staff. We even inquired through the regional emergency medical situation room about hospitals in Seoul, but the transfer was not possible. Even though there are many university hospitals nearby, I still feel my heart pounding when I think about having to wait indefinitely in the emergency room."
Ultimately, in an anxious state, they had to wait in the emergency room of that hospital for 12 hours. Only after the day changed could they receive outpatient treatment in the intensive care unit of a hospital that could provide care. Mr. A said, "My heart breaks when I think of my son enduring painkillers in the emergency room. It is deplorable and despairing that no one treated my son."
There was a similar case. On the 27th of last month, a man in his 40s, Mr. B, who was working outdoors in Buk-gu, Busan, collapsed showing symptoms of heatstroke. The 119 ambulance was dispatched and inquired about availability at about 10 emergency centers in the Busan area, but all refused. Eventually, the ambulance carrying the patient headed to Ulsan. It was about an hour and 30 minutes after the report. Mr. B, who was in cardiac arrest at the time, died a few days later while receiving treatment.
Since February, conflicts between the medical community and the government have entered their sixth month following the collective resignation of residents in protest against the increase in medical school admissions. In particular, there are reports from the field that the emergency medical system has reached a state of collapse.
The Korean Association of Medical School Professors (KAMSP) criticized on the 30th through a press release, saying, "There has been a lot of talk recently about the emergency medical crisis, but the president says everything is going well," and added, "We recommend that the president ride in a 119 ambulance himself." Concerns are growing that during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, when general hospitals close and even mild patients flock to emergency rooms, a medical crisis could occur.
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