• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.243-270
• /
• 2010

Under the existing law, an act included in medical practice by medical personnel seems to be irrelevant to whether the act concerned in the "Life World" is in the category of medical practice. In spite of the act having been done according to the custom for a long time, and generally done by individuals in the "Life World", these kinds of acts have been banned by law, because if these acts were done by the general individuals, it would be considered as harmful behavior to human life and body. And it is not sure that individuals know such a ban or notification. This cause a "Mistake of Law". Also it is happened if someone knows the existence of law but believes that his/her act is not included. For treating the problem of "Mistake of Law" of unlicensed medical act, in this study I inquired thoroughly into the category and regulation of unlicensed medical act, uncertainty of the Medical Services Law the first Section of Article 27, the prohibition of unlicensed medical act. The "Composition Condition" of the first Section of Article 27 of the Medical Services Law is not certain, it doesn't meet the "Doctrine of Clearance", and it cause the "Mistake of Law". Also it doesn't meet standardization of constitutional state. An exceptional decision of Pusan District Court, the debate about unlicensed medical practice, constitutional decision on unlicensed medical practice of the Constitutional Court of Republic of Korea and point of view of support of regulation. Also I examined the problem of "Mistake of Law" that the regulation of unlicensed medical practice has. I tried to solve uncertainty of "Composition Condition" and proposed a direction of regulation for solving the "Mistake of Law" and the use of existing law.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.43-65
• /
• 2023

The healthcare industry is a digital healthcare that combines technology based on the 4th Industrial Revolution, dealing with information on individual health and medical care, and is a fusion of health care services and medical science and technology. It is questionable whether digital healthcare according to the paradigm change can be discussed by the concept of medical practice under the existing Medical Act. There is no clear definition of the concept of medical practice in the Medical Service Act, but the concept is established through precedents. In addition, under the Medical Service Act, the subject of medical practice is limited to medical personnel. However, digital healthcare sometimes diagnoses and treats diseases using digital technology by medical personnel. On the other hand, what is possible by non-medical personnel is digital healthcare. This is because digital healthcare is understood as a concept that includes health care such as exercise, eating habits, and weight control. For this reason, if the concept of medical practice under the "Medical Act" on digital healthcare is included, it is subject to criminal punishment for "unlicensed medical practice" prescribed in Article 27 of the "Medical Act". In the health and medical industry, digital transformation and convergence with information and communication technology are rapidly progressing. As a result, there is a need to newly define it as 'digitalized medical practice' or 'information and communication technology (ICT)-based medical practice' separately from existing medical practices. The concept of medical practice has variability, not a fixed and invariable concept. However, in response to this demand, it is not an infinite expansion of the concept of medical practice, but a request to reset its scope. Therefore, the concept of medical practice should be legislated by reflecting the demand of consumers for the medical service system.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.55-68
• /
• 2017

In recent years, medical practice has seen a drastic change due to the rapid, exponential expansion of scientific and medical technologies. Specially, the role of medical technologists (also known as medical laboratory scientists and/or clinical laboratory scientists) are increasing in the development of science of medical technology. As such, their responsibility has also been increasing. Therefore, given their highly specialized knowledge and skills, they are not regarded solely as doctor's assistants. Their independence and deeper specialization have been increasing, as they perform medial practices under the guidance of doctors or dentists pursuant to the "Act on Medical Service Technologists." From a legal point of view, medical guidance and scope of work were examined. As a conclusion, the definition of doctor's superintendency on the "Act on Medical Service Technologists" is required, and the qualification for the Korean license examination and their roles should be stated clearly. Moreover, communications among health professions regarding the roles of medical technologists are necessary to further facilitate clarification of their role. There is a need for independent legislation to expand the field of medical technologists and to strengthen their professionalism.

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

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.869-879
• /
• 2013

Modern medicine has not yet conquered behavior therapy for cancer radiation treatment, which is one of the professional groups involved in the justification of the act and reasonable human resources was analyzed. Radiation Oncology(Therapeutic Radiology) installed the role of the medical physicist in the current law, the act must have been within the limits given licenses, but the legitimacy of the act which can be given the current laws and regulations are not clear. Thus, certification and testing outside the medical physicist's research institutions, including the measures to be reflected in national legislation sought. Medical physicists, with the inherent illegality act because one of the areas to precluding the illegality of the content-based "medical law" and "Nuclear Safety Law", "medical technology in the field of radiation safety standards on management" was based on the interpretation. In conclusion, "medical law" and "in the field of medical technology on the management of radiation safety standards" that are consistent with the recognition of qualifications, increased activity in the radiation therapy and radiation safety management must deal with this will be feasible.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.35-57
• /
• 2014

Recently, there has been fierce argument between oriental and western doctors in the medical field. The use of medical devices has particularly come to the fore lately. Appropriate medical devices are required to diagnose and treat patients' conditions or illnesses accurately. At issue recently in medical device sector are diagnostic instruments using radiation, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, IPL(Intense Pulse Light), and instruments used for tonometry. Relating to this issue, Association of Korean Oriental Medicine and The Association of Korean Medicine are sharply opposed. It is predicted that more accusations of this kind will be seen in the future. As oriental medicine contends, ultrasonic imaging itself seems to cause no harm to humans and its use may have an advantage for national health. The use of western diagnostic equipment can expand the diagnostic range of oriental doctors. However, unless new legislation is made, it is against the law for oriental doctors to use this equipment. Both law and medical science require grounds and predictability on the correctness of a decision and all of its consequences. Additionally, oriental medicine's use of ultrasounds and other medical devices should be established by standards and grounds which make same the diagnosis with repetition. Therefore, the scope of oriental medicine can be expanded following a revision of the Oriental Medicine Promotion Act and it is estimated that the state of national health will be greatly improved by the mutual respect of both sides of the health profession.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.149-176
• /
• 2022

South Korean law strictly prohibits engagement in medical activities by non-medical practitioners. In the country, tattooing is classified as a medical practice, and non-medical practitioners who engage in it are penalized because they are unauthorized to carry out this procedure. In reality, however, people rarely seek tattooing services from medical personnel. Arguing that their freedom of job selection is violated, non-medical personnel who make a living as tattoo artists reject the characterization of the procedure as a form of medical treatment and demand the decriminalization of tattooing by non-medical practitioners. Nevertheless, tattooing can cause health- and hygiene-related dangers when it is not performed by medical professionals because it involves penetration into the skin using needles. Hence, stringent management is necessary for infection prevention. The gap between reality and the law gives rise to the need for proactive thinking about the institutionalization of tattoo practice by non-medical personnel. Policymakers should reflect on the fact that only minimal tattooing services are currently performed by medical staff while also accounting for health and safety. On this basis, this study examined tattoo-related legislation in South Korea to determine whether the procedure corresponds to medical practice and identify ways to solve problems that occur from the perspective of health care. As a response that promotes safety and reflects reality, this research proposed a three-phase approach.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.111-138
• /
• 2021

'Unlicensed medical practice by a non-medical practitioner' often represented by surrogate surgery or so-called 'ghost surgery,' causes irreparable damage to life or body, and therefore calls for very strict and effective controls. The 'bill on installment of CCTVs in an operating room' to prevent unlicensed surrogate surgery has been discussed for a long time, but due to numerous issues and heated confrontations, it has been pending in the National Assembly. Nevertheless, it is expected that the bill will be discussed again in earnest in the National Assembly because surrogate surgery and factory-type cosmetic surgery, which has been performed mainly in the field of cosmetic surgery, has also been occurring in the field of therapeutic surgery. In general, an operating room is considered as being locked or closed, as well as disallowing implicit complicity among insiders. Hence, if the insiders conspire to commit or cover up an illegal act, or if a surgeon performs rapid cosmetic surgery and then leaves the recipient (or medical institution) so as to perform more operations for profit - even if it is legitimate practice - it may result in serious consequences in terms of the recovery of a patient. In this case, installation of CCTVs can be of great help in identifying an illegal act and assessing any occurrence of negligence. On the other hand, while the fundamental purpose of therapeutic surgery is to restore a patient's life or body - that is, lifesaving - installation of CCTVs may base the relationship between a surgeon and a patient on distrust and surveillance, so it may increase the number of requests for CCTV footage or lead to more disputes, as well as placing a burden on the surgeon when best results are not achieved for a patient. As a result, the surgeon may choose non-invasive treatment contrary to conscience instead of risky but necessary surgery, or he/she may have significant difficulty in determining the timing of surgery, which may limit the provision of effective surgical medical care. Then, in terms of the relationship between a surgeon and patient, and in the long run, there could be significant disadvantages for the public and patients if CCTV footage is allowed. In this paper, we review domestic and overseas cases and issues regarding installation of CCTVs in an operating room, and present various viewpoints and suggestions to promote legislation with minimized legal problems and side effects, thereby contributing to protection of the lives and health of the public, patients, and recipients of surgery.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.427-453
• /
• 2009

This study aims to review legal problems of similar medical practice and suggest methods of improvement. Similar medical practice refers to all medical practices conducted in the state that human qualification is not fulfilled. It may cause serious damages on health and lives of national people. Currently, similar medical practices are recognized as unlicensed medical practices and prohibited based on the Medical law and additionally punished by then special law in Korea. However, the current Medical Law does not provide clear and accurate concept of medical practices so that it is difficult to regulate similar medical practices. The issue of complementary and alternative therapy related to similar medical practices is also in special state different from other countries. In addition, since similar medical practices lack of evidences in terms of safety, the dangerousness of accidents is high and it may affect badly on health of national people and health care policies. Methods of improvement in order to resolve problems regarding similar medical practices are: first, concept and scope of medical practice should be clear, accurate and concrete. Second, complementary and alternative therapies related to similar medical practices need to be strictly examined and the supervisory right should be given to doctors should be given even though a part of it is allowed. Third, research institutes specialized in the field should be established for scientific examination of complementary and alternative therapy and objective research results should be open to the public. Finally, since damage cases caused by similar medical practices by non-medical personnel, national management and supervision for similar medical practices should be reinforced.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.207-229
• /
• 2019

It is a general recognition that more serious criminal acts in a certain area of society should be given more serious condemation than the same general crimnal act. In particular, considering the purpose of the medical treatment and the trust relationship between the doctor and the patient, the sexual violence by doctor in medical field can not be placed on the same line as that of the general public. But the special legislation to solve this through criminal legal sanctions is not desirable. The basic principle of criminal law ist ultima ratio, so the principle of supplementality. It means to try to solve by all possible means and finally to enter with punishment. A flat and hasty Reaction without the considering of the speciality of medical treatment will cause serious cracking in that area. In addition, it will not be able to expect desirable results in legal practice by breaking down the legal system. Rather, administrative regulation is more efficient than punishment sanctions. But the best way is autonomous control by members of the medical area. Penalties in criminal law must make an enterance at the last, and administrative regulation should be timely intervene in specific situations through diversification. In conclusion, state interventions should be farthest in order to proceed to autonomous control of medical area.