Yang Jae-woong, who postponed his marriage with Hani, has been referred to the prosecution for investigation over alleged falsification of a deceased patient’s records.
On the 18th, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) announced that it has requested a prosecution inquiry into Dr. Yang Jae-woong, the head of the hospital, along with the attending physician, on-call doctor, nurse, and nurse assistant, in connection with a patient’s death at the hospital operated by Yang, who is both a broadcaster and a psychiatrist. The inquiry concerns allegations of directing or aiding the falsification of medical records.
In May last year, a woman identified as ‘A’ died at a hospital in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, where Yang Jae-woong is the director. ‘A’ was admitted for treatment of diet drug addiction and passed away after 17 days. The family claimed the hospital neglected her care leading to her death and filed a complaint against Yang and hospital staff for abandonment resulting in death and professional negligence resulting in death.
The Bucheon Wonmi Police Station suspended the investigation in mid-January this year, citing the absence of expert evaluation results from the Korean Medical Association (KMA) requested last October.
According to police investigation regulations, expert evaluations are needed to conclude cases of medical malpractice, traffic accidents, patent violations, etc., and investigations can be suspended if such evaluations require time.
However, various professional organizations criticized the police decision, questioning the rationale of only consulting the KMA, which represents doctors’ interests, and then claiming investigation suspension due to non-response.
The NHRC’s investigation revealed falsified medical records related to the patient’s death at Yang’s hospital and actions either directed or aided by hospital staff, prompting the request for a prosecution inquiry.
The NHRC discovered that the hospital isolated ‘A’ four times and restrained her twice. On the day of her death, she was restrained early in the morning and later could exit the isolation room only after responders from the 119 emergency service arrived. At that time, ‘A’ was unconscious, without pulse, blood pressure, or breathing.
The NHRC concluded that the hospital enforced unjust isolation and restraint measures on ‘A.’ Even though there were signs of bowel issues the day before her death, and despite being aware of the severity of her condition, attending physicians and the on-call doctor neither treated nor thoroughly assessed her, resorting to isolation and restraint.
Appearing as a witness at the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee’s audit last October, Yang Jae-woong denied any fault by the hospital in the patient’s death, saying, “I do not acknowledge it. It’s difficult to accept.” He added, “I apologize once more for not ensuring a safe recovery for your daughter and sister, whom you entrusted to our hospital’s care.”