Patient Advocates Appointed to Mediate Medical Disputes
Lawyers with Medical Accident Expertise and Experience Selected
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency announced on the 16th that they have appointed 56 lawyers with expertise in medical accidents and more than three years of experience as 'patient advocates' to mediate medical disputes.
The patient advocate program aims to promote dispute resolution through mediation in the event of a medical accident and to ensure the substantial participation of the parties involved throughout the mediation process. This year, the program is funded with a national budget of 300 million won.
The program is available to parties involved in cases of death, unconsciousness lasting more than one month, or severe permanent disability, who participate in mediation or related procedures. These parties receive legal counseling and advice throughout the entire mediation process.
The government is strengthening the medical accident safety net to address the avoidance of essential medical services due to concerns over medical accidents. This initiative is also being implemented to promote medical dispute mediation through patient advocates, enhance trust in the mediation system, and protect both healthcare professionals and patients facing difficulties due to medical accidents.
The lawyers appointed on this day will serve as patient advocates for two years after undergoing preliminary training and other preparatory steps.
Jung Yoonsoon, Director General of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "Starting with the patient advocate program, we will comprehensively improve the medical dispute mediation process and develop it into a system that benefits both patients and healthcare professionals."
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