'Illegal Propofol Administration' Gangnam Dermatology Clinic Director Sent to Prosecution

Hospital director A, who habitually prescribed and administered propofol illegally to dozens of patients, has been referred to the prosecution.

On the 8th, the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul announced that they had sent Dr. A, in his 50s, to the prosecution without detention on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act, Medical Service Act, and obstructing the autopsy of a corpse. Dr. A is accused of prescribing and administering narcotics such as propofol hundreds of times to more than 30 patients at his dermatology and plastic surgery clinic in Cheongdam-dong from February last year to April this year, without properly recording the medication details in the medical records.

He is also suspected of changing the position of his wife’s body, who was found dead at their home before the autopsy. Earlier, in April, police responded to a report and discovered Dr. A’s wife, Mrs. B, deceased at their residence in Seongdong-gu. The National Forensic Service’s autopsy revealed the cause of death to be propofol overdose. However, it was confirmed that there was no causal relationship between Dr. A and Mrs. B’s death. Dr. A is reported to have stated that he was unaware that his wife was addicted to propofol.

The police also sent two nursing assistants from Dr. A’s clinic to the prosecution without detention on charges of falsely reporting drug administration records to the Narcotics Integrated Management System (NIMS).