• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.305-324
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• 2007

We surveyed the emotional images of three kinds of scientific technologies in people's mind and the perception of technologies in terms of their risks and benefits. The contents of the image and their image values were used to estimate the affects on each technology. As an affect heuristic hypothesis predicted, people perceived the technology more beneficial or riskier depending on their overall affect. In other words, those who have positive affect on the technology Perceived less risky and more beneficial than those who have negative affect. On the other hand, those who have negative affect on the technology perceived riskier and less beneficial than those who have positive affect. We also found negative relationship between the perceived risk and perceived benefit of each technology. The implications of our findings that suggest affective heuristic were discussed in terms of the measurements of affect and the necessity of communication of scientific technologies with the public.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.113-142
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• 2018

In recent years, there have been opinions in which physicians are liable to the revocation of their medical license if they are sentenced to above a certain level for criminal charges regardless of the types of offenses. Accordingly, a revised bill of law was submitted in the National Assembly, and related discussions are thus expected to commence. Considering the morality and ethics or the level of the rule of law that the general public expects of physicians, as well as the license revocation system in other professional sectors, it is assessed that medical license revocation due to criminal convictions of physicians is appropriate to some degree. However, if a poorly devised system is established based on unrefined inferences or emotional judgements, unexpected side-effects are likely to arise. With regard to serious criminal acts that society generally perceives as unacceptable, it can be assessed that the revocation of physicians' licenses would appropriately protect the general public from threats. However, given the life-saving characteristics of high-risk medical practices, higher malpractice exposures, and social values, it is difficult to assess charges of professional negligence resulting in death(or in injury) and minor offences in the same manner as anti-social criminal offences are handled. Physicians need to be treated the same as any other professions. At the same time, they are engaged in administering medical treatment to patients in the face of great risks as professionals. Under the circumstances, a discussion on the introduction of a more specific and empirical system is needed by considering the intrinsic characteristics of medical treatment and the need for an equitable health and medical policy. Accordingly, based on the above judgment and perception, this study explores the code of ethics for physicians and medical license revocation related to criminal offences at home and abroad, and examines various legislative alternatives appropriate for the Republic of Korea. In doing so, the purpose of the study is to contribute to the development of a reasonable system for handling criminal offences by physicians.