KMA: "Mental illness is not a disqualification... Licensing authority should be handed over to experts"

KMA Young Doctors Policy Advisory Group Announcement

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) asserted that all mental illnesses are not disqualifying factors for medical professionals. They also stated that disciplinary and license management authority should be transferred to expert groups such as the KMA for prompt response to doctors who commit illegal acts.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The KMA Young Doctors Policy Advisory Group said on the 2nd, "Like other diseases, mental illnesses can be recovered or cured to the extent that they do not restrict performing duties through early diagnosis and appropriate treatment," adding, "Not all mental illnesses are disqualifying factors for medical professionals."

They continued, "Whether a medical professional is disqualified or whether license revocation is necessary should be entirely determined by the judgment of doctors who are experts in the relevant field."

Earlier, Choo Kyung-ho, a member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee from the People Power Party, claimed that about 6,000 doctors per year on average over the past five years were diagnosed with mental illnesses and that qualification verification for these medical professionals should be strengthened. According to data Choo received from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, an average of 6,228 doctors per year over the past five years were diagnosed with mental illnesses, and they performed an average of 27.99 million medical treatments and surgeries annually.

The KMA stated, "The data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service simply includes all cases of psychiatric treatment, exaggerating the numbers by including mild illnesses such as mild depression or insomnia that do not interfere with medical treatment or surgery."

They added, "Despite many medical workers struggling on the front lines to eliminate prejudice and negative perceptions about mental illnesses, such announcements should not promote stigma against mental illness, demonize doctors, or amplify public anxiety."

They also argued that disciplinary and license management authority should be transferred to expert groups. Under the current system, even if a disqualifying factor is found in a medical professional, license revocation requires a confirmed court ruling followed by administrative action from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, making it difficult to immediately isolate doctors with disqualifying factors from patients.

They emphasized, "To promptly isolate unethical doctors from patients, a self-disciplinary system that takes immediate effect must operate smoothly."

The KMA stated, "Although a 'professional evaluation system' is being operated as a pilot project for self-regulation of medical acts that are difficult to judge administratively, as long as the Ministry of Health and Welfare holds all practical license management authority, including managing the qualifications of medical personnel and disciplining illegal acts, autonomous discipline and self-regulation will be difficult to achieve."

They added, "Advanced countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany have professional organizations centered on doctors that handle disciplinary actions and license management for medical professionals," and emphasized once again, "It is essential to grant independent expert-centered organizations with investigation and disciplinary authority that meet the standards of advanced countries."