• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.217-244
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• 2007

The purpose of the research is to understand the life of persons with disabilities caused by an accident by reconstructing their post-accident experiences. As a research tool, Fritz $Sch{\ddot{u}}tze's$ narrative interview was used, and three cases were analyzed in terms of a 'process structure of life'. After the researcher reconstructed each case, she sorted the cases comprehensively both according to the common features as well as to the differences among them. In doing so, the researcher came up with three characteristics of persons with disabilities caused by an accident. First, rather than identifying with their present life, the interviewees identified themselves with their life before the accident happened. Such identification problem is connected with their problem of accepting their handicap. And the interviewees identified themselves with disability groups. It showed that they feel more comfortable and secure among other people with disabilities than with families or friends. This makes them stay in the group of the disabled, in which they can understand and respect each other, rather than staying in a group in which people discriminate the disabled from able bodied and do not accept the disabled as equal members. Second, in their narration the interviewees told stories emphasizing their life after the accident happened. This feature can be compared with the experiences of those persons who underwent a trauma. Finally, it was found that our country's welfare policy for persons with disabilities caused by an accident is designed without differentiating people according to gender or educational background. Through these findings, the researcher intends to reflect on our country's current social welfare services and to look for new methods in order to implement proper social welfare practices.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-83
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• 2013

Medical treatment has great potential for conflict. Even the best-trained doctors can commit medical malpractice that result in continuing physical or mental disabilities or even death. Medical conflicts have been increasing over years. The medical conflicts between patient and medical professionals that result from medical professionals' mistakes are often fueled by a violation on the pretext of the injuries form medical malpractice and can lead to litigation. The litigation usually cost a lot of money and time. The extension of the litigation period as well as expensive cost and lack of medical knowledge placing a great burden on patients. Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) is more efficient than litigation. In 1988, the medical dispute mediation system has been introduces as the Act on Remedy for Damage from Medical Accident and Medical Dispute Mediation by Korean Medical Association came into effect after 23 years of enactment efforts. Medical Dispute Mediation Act(hereinafter referred to as the "MDMA") has finally entered into force from 8 April 2012. The purpose of the MDMA is to promptly and fairly redress injuries caused by medical malpractice and create a stable environment for medical services of public health or medical professionals by providing for matters regarding the mediation and arbitration of medical disputes(MDMA ${\S}1$). In an effort to secure the fair, speedy and inexpensive resolution of every malpractice case, the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency(hereinafter referred to as the "K-MEDI") was established. Following the MDMA, the K-MEDI shall endeavor to ensure the medical dispute mediation or arbitration proceedings are conducted in a prompt, fair, and efficient manner, and patients and medical professionals shall attend proceedings in good faith with mutual trust and understanding when they participate in medical dispute mediation or arbitration proceedings.