Three Nurses Referred Without Detention
Evidence of Abuse Secured Through Mobile Phone Forensics
The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency announced on July 29 that it has concluded its investigation into the suspected child abuse incident that occurred in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of 00 University Hospital on April 1.
The police identified five nurses who worked in the hospital's NICU and conducted an investigation. As a result, three of them were referred to the prosecution without detention on July 24 on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act (physical abuse) and the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (aggravated punishment for mandated reporters).
During the investigation, the police took into account that there were no CCTV cameras installed in the NICU. They secured additional evidence by seizing and forensically analyzing the suspects' mobile phones.
However, the police explained that the specific details of the abuse cannot be disclosed in accordance with Article 35 (Duty of Confidentiality) of the Special Act.
An official from the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "Since this incident occurred in a medical setting where newborns are cared for, it has had a significant social impact," and added, "It is necessary to strengthen child protection systems and monitoring devices within medical institutions in cooperation with relevant agencies in the future."
Experts are also calling for urgent institutional improvements, such as making it mandatory to install CCTV cameras in neonatal intensive care units, in response to this incident.
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