Doctor who disclosed colleagues' personal information including 'Blacklist' suspended for one year

Welfare Ministry Announces Legislative Notice
for Amendments to the Medical Service Act Enforcement Decree

Amid an ongoing investigation into the 'blacklist' that defamed returning residents online and exposed their personal information, medical personnel who illegally disclose colleagues' personal information will face a one-year suspension of their medical license.

On the 28th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a legislative notice for a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Medical Service Act containing these provisions.

The amendment adds to the clause on 'acts damaging the dignity of medical personnel' the act of 'posting or sharing information that can identify other medical personnel on internet media or social networking services (SNS) with the intent to obstruct medical work.' Those who commit such acts will be subject to a 12-month license suspension.

Following the government's announcement last February to increase medical school quotas by 2,000, residents collectively resigned, and the personal information of residents who had not left or had returned to the medical field was disclosed under the name 'Cham Uisa List' on the doctors' internet community 'MediStaff.' Because of this, MediStaff was investigated by the Korea Communications Standards Commission for aiding the dissemination of personal information and its headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was raided on the 10th.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stipulated in the legislative notice that when transmitting medical records between medical institutions at the patient's request, the transmission may be done through a medical record transmission support system, information and communication networks, email, fax, or other methods determined by the head of the medical institution.

The amendment will be open for public comment until May 7 through the Integrated Legislative Notice Center or by mail, after which it will undergo review by the Office for Government Policy Coordination and deliberation and resolution by the State Council before being enacted.