• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.112-121
• /
• 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to reflect upon the process of the legislation of the National Medical Services Law for traditional Korean medicine practitioners (TKM practitioners), especially at the Assembly plenary session of 1951. Methods: Various primary sources related to the legislation were examined, especially those in National Assembly Records and newspapers. Results: In 1950, the National Assembly wanted to establish the National Medical Services Law (國民醫療法) replacing the colonial medical services law (朝鮮醫療令), but it ended in failure. So in 1951, the National Assembly tried again. First, legislator Han Gukwon (韓國源), with 83 other legislators, introduced a bill for the new national health care system. The Society and Health (社會保健委員會) and the Legislation and Judiciary subcommittees (法制司法委員會) deliberated on this bill, and each proposed an amendment to the National Assembly. In the process of careful deliberation of these three proposals, the Ministry of Health and legislator Kim Ikgi (金翼基) each came up with a further amendment. Ultimately, Kim Ikgi's amendment was accepted by the National Assembly. According to his proposal, TKM practitioners were titled 'Hanuisa (漢醫師)', and the medical office name of TKM practitioners became 'Hanuiwon (漢醫院)'. Conclusions: The National Medical Services Law passed in 1951 was the beginning of the unique dual national medical license system of Korea. It recognized Western medicine and TKM practitioners equally under the national license system.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.588-598
• /
• 2012

The aim of this study is to reflect on the issues of the National Medical Services Law for Korean medicine practitioners (KM practitioners) in Korea, especially those discussed at the Assembly plenary session in 1951. In 1951, the National Assembly wanted to establish the National Medical Services Law (國民醫療法) replacing the colonial medical services law (朝鮮醫療令). Consequently the National Assembly passed the law establishing the license level of KM practitioners equal to that of Western practitioners. But the progress of establishing the law was not easy. There was much dispute over the KM practitioners system amongst the legislators at the Assembly plenary session in 1951. One of the main dispute was about setting the license level of KM practitioners. There were two main positions. One insisted that the license level of KM practitioners should be equal to that of Western practitioners. They had many reasons to support their contended point. From a historical, social, economical, medical and institutional point of view, they argued that the people had needed the KM and thus the new founded Korea had to reflect this situation. The other insisted that the license level of KM practitioners should be below that of Western practitioners. The reason was mainly that the KM was not scientific. This study concludes that the argument of the former was superior to the latter in quantity and quality.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.81-109
• /
• 2021

This paper review about the relationship between the prohibition against medical refusal and the principle of private autonomy in medical contracts. The obligation to this Prohibition in Medical Law does not restrict the liberty of contracting a medical contract. On the other hand, the prohibition limits the freedom to terminate medical contracts. Medical contracts can be terminated if the trust between doctors and patients is vanished. However certain restrictions should be placed on termination of the medical contract, because termination of the contract should not be detrimental to patients' health. According to the current medical law the medical contract is to be enforced in principle and can be revoked only with justifiable reason. At the Civil Code on Medical Contracts the freedom to terminate the medical contract is permitted, but this paper suggests the restrictions of the revocation under certain conditions. The Criminal Punishment Regulations against medical refusal should be removed. Refusal the provide medical service should be regulated by administrative sanctions under the National Health Insurance Act's obligation.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.177-219
• /
• 2016

A commercial advertisement is not only a way of competition but also a medium of communication. Thus, it is under the constitutional protection of the freedom of business (article 15 of the Constitution) as well as the freedom of press [article 21 (1) of the Constitution]. In terms of the freedom of business or competition, it should be noted that an unfair advertising (false or misleading advertisement) can be regulated as an unfair competition, while any restraint on advertising other than unfair one might be doubted as an unjustifiable restraint of trade. In terms of the freedom of press or communication, it is important that article 21 (2) of the Constitution forbids any kind of (prior) censorship, and the Constitutional Court applies this restriction even to commercial advertising. In this article, the applicability of these schemes to advertising of the so-called learned professions, especially physician, are to be examined, and some proposals for the reformation of the current regulatory regime are to be made. Main arguments of this article can be summarized as follows: First, the current regime which requires advance review of physician advertising as prescribed in article 56 (2) no. 9 of Medical Act should be reformed. It does not mean that the current interpretation of article 21 of the Constitution is agreeable. Though a commercial advertising is a way of communication and can be protected by article 21 (1) of the Constitution, it should not be under the prohibition of censorship prescribed by article 21 (2) of the Constitution. The Constitutional Court adopts the opposite view, however. It is doubtful that physician advertising needs some prior restraint, also. Of course, there exists severe informational asymmetry between physicians and patients and medical treatment might harm the life and health of patients irrevocably, so that medical treatment can be discerned from other services. It is civil and criminal liability for medical malpractice and duty to inform and not regulation on physician advertising, to address these differences or problems. Advance review should be abandoned and repelled, or substituted by more unproblematic way of regulation such as an accreditation of reviewed advertising or a self-regulation preformed by physician association independently from the Ministry of Health and Welfare or any other governmental agencies. Second, the substantive criteria for unfair physician advertising also should correspond that of unfair advertising in general. Some might argue that a learned profession, especially medical practice, is totally different from other businesses. It is performed under the professional ethics and should not persue commercial interest; medical practice in Korea is governed by the National Health Insurance system, the stability of which might be endangered when commercial competition in medical practice be allowed. Medical Act as well as the condition of medical practice market do not exclude competition between physicians. The fact is quite the opposite. Physicians are competing even though under the professional ethics and obligations and all the restrictions provided by the National Health Insurance system. In this situation, regulation on physician advertising might constitute unjustifiable restraint of competition, especially a kind of entry barrier for 'new physicians.'

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.259-276
• /
• 2011

If frail elderly could use home care services adequately, quality of their life might improve and their costs of service would be decreased. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors on institutionalization of elderly using home care services in Korean long-term care insurance system. This study used the data of '2009 satisfaction survey of Korean long-term care system'. The survey proceeded using sampling data by region, level of long-term care need, and insurance type among beneficiaries from August 2009 to September 2010. The onset dates of institutionalization of 1,230 participants were ascertained from long-term care insurance claim data. This study calculated hazard ratio through Cox Proportional Hazard Model. The results showed that if elderly using home care services suffer a fracture, the hazard ratio of institutionalization is higher significantly. Although not significant, if older persons have more items of damaged cognitive functions, the hazard ratio of institutionalization is higher. The results have policy implications to supplement of home care service system and postpone institutionalization of elderly.