Patient in Their 70s Dies After Fall at Mungyeong Nursing Hospital... Hospital Management Under Scrutiny

"Climbing onto a wheelchair and escaping through a second-floor window,
the entire scene captured on CCTV"

An accident occurred at a nursing hospital in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, where a patient in their 70s, who was receiving inpatient treatment, died after jumping out of a second-floor window. The patient was urgently transferred to the hospital immediately after the fall, but passed away three days later while receiving treatment.

Clockwise view of the rear of a nursing hospital in Mungyeong, the accident site, hallway window where the wheelchair has been moved, measures taken immediately after the accident to prevent the window from being opened, below is the statement submitted by the bereaved family to the police station.

The accident took place at around 5:35 a.m. on April 5. CCTV footage inside the hospital captured patient A (age 74) stepping on a wheelchair and jumping out of the window in the second-floor hallway.

Immediately after the incident, A was found on the ground bleeding and was transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment. However, while being moved from the emergency room of the local hospital to the intensive care unit at Kyungpook National University Hospital in Buk-gu, Daegu, A ultimately did not regain consciousness.

A had not been diagnosed with any specific mental illness, and it is known that there were no guardians or caregivers observing A at the time of the accident. The hospital stated, "A did not show any particular abnormal signs before or after the incident, making it difficult to predict," and expressed their shock.

However, issues regarding the lack of safety facilities and staff arrangements to prevent unexpected behavior by elderly patients, and especially the inadequate management of hallway windows, are now under scrutiny.

The bereaved family strongly asserts the hospital's responsibility, stating, "Considering the patient's condition and the hospital's structure, this was an accident that could have been sufficiently prevented."

Regarding the incident, the nursing hospital suggested the possibility of self-harm, stating, "It appears that the patient climbed onto the wheelchair on their own and jumped out of the ward window." A hospital representative explained, "The incident occurred at night, and the CCTV system only records automatically when there is movement, so there is no exact video record of the moment of the accident."

The hospital also commented on the area below the point where the patient fell, saying, "That space is originally intended for the temporary storage of wheelchairs only, and it was not a place left accessible for patients to move wheelchairs on their own," showing a cautious attitude that seemed aware of potential facility management responsibility.

Meanwhile, the hospital has launched an internal investigation into the incident and has reported the matter to the relevant authorities. The police are currently investigating the exact circumstances of the accident based on the hospital's statements, CCTV footage, and the ward's layout.

This nursing hospital mainly admits elderly and dementia patients, many of whom require regular protection. The police are questioning hospital staff about staffing levels and on-site response at the time of the accident, and are investigating the exact cause of the incident, including possible negligence by the hospital.

A police official stated, "We are confirming the facts by reviewing the available CCTV footage and employee statements, and the investigation is expected to take about two months." The official also said that, if necessary, legal responsibility for the hospital's lack of safety management would be considered.

Meanwhile, this incident has sparked growing calls for the effectiveness of safety management systems and the need for institutional improvements across nursing hospitals in general.

In particular, there are demands for fundamental improvements such as structural safety measures for facilities leading to the outside, including windows, as well as strengthening patient monitoring systems and increasing night shift staffing.

A representative of a local civic group pointed out, "Now that we are entering an aged society, the issue of safety in nursing hospitals is no longer just a matter for individual hospitals," and emphasized, "Institutional standards must be revised, and public responsibility must also be strengthened."

The bereaved family is currently demanding an apology from the hospital and responsible follow-up measures, and is reportedly considering legal action in the future.

Death certificate handed over by the bereaved family.