Han Kyoreh Cites All Staff in Report
Allegations of Negligence in Patient Care Raised
Witness Scheduled to Appear at Health and Welfare Committee Audit on 23rd
Controversy continues as a woman in her 30s died during treatment at a psychiatric hospital operated by psychiatrist Yang Jae-woong, who was actively involved in broadcasting activities. Meanwhile, The Hankyoreh reported that there were past medical accidents at the hospital.
A, who worked at the W Psychiatric Hospital in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, operated by Director Yang, said about the recent death incident, "I thought it was something that would happen someday." He added, "During the death incident in May, the patient was holding her stomach and knocking on the door while soiling herself in the isolation room, but instead of transferring her to a higher-level hospital, they just kept giving her medication and restraining her, and as far as I know, no doctor came."
He said a similar incident occurred in 2017. "A patient hospitalized on the second floor had a weapon and self-harmed in the smoking room at the end of the ward. She almost died from excessive bleeding." The cause was that the caregiver who inspects belongings upon return from outings or overnight stays was not on the second floor that day. The accident was handled by hospital staff, not doctors or nurses. "At that time, there were no nurses, only two nursing assistants, who were busy passing gauze, and emergency treatment such as hemostasis was performed by administrative staff until the fire ambulance arrived," he explained. A claimed that the patient who caused the problem needed intensive care due to auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, and delusions but was neglected.
741 Isolation Measures This Year... Highest in 5 Years
According to data handed over to Seo Mi-hwa, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 14th, the number of isolation measures (locking patients in isolation rooms) implemented at this hospital reached 741 from January to August 18 this year. Previously, there were 622 cases in 2020, 444 in 2021, 247 in 2022, and 557 in 2023. The number of restraint treatments, which involve tying the patient's hands and feet to the bed, is also expected to be the highest this year. The year with the highest number of restraint measures recently was 2021 with 121 cases, and this hospital recorded 118 cases this year. Considering the remaining fourth quarter, it is expected to set a record high in the past five years.
Earlier, Yang Jae-woong was embroiled in controversy after a woman in her 30s, A, who was admitted to his hospital, died from pseudo-intestinal obstruction after 17 days in May. At that time, A was hospitalized for treatment of addiction to diet pills containing narcotic substances but experienced difficulty with bowel movements and intermittent abdominal pain. The day before her death, she complained of severe abdominal pain and knocked on the door of the isolation room (rest room), but it is known that nursing assistants and caregivers administered sedatives and carried out restraint measures.
In relation to this, Director Yang is scheduled to appear as a witness at the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee's audit on the 23rd. Also, seemingly aware of police investigations and public criticism, he indefinitely postponed his wedding, which was scheduled last month.
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