Four years ago, Kim’s son Dong-hee died after what his mother describes as a harrowing ordeal of medical missteps and denied care. The case, colloquially known as “emergency room ping-pong,” has thrust Kim into a prolonged legal battle against what she calls “the impenetrable power of the medical establishment and large hospitals.” (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept.11(Korea Bizwire) – Kim So-hee’s voice trembled as she recounted the tragic loss of her 4-year-old son, Kim Dong-hee, in a case that has come to symbolize the challenges patients face in South Korea’s medical system.
“It wasn’t until the investigation began that we learned the shocking truth,” Kim said at a patient advocacy event in Seoul on September 10. “My son’s medical records were missing, and the hospital’s claim that they couldn’t provide emergency treatment due to an ongoing CPR case was false.”
Four years ago, Kim’s son Dong-hee died after what his mother describes as a harrowing ordeal of medical missteps and denied care. The case, colloquially known as “emergency room ping-pong,” has thrust Kim into a prolonged legal battle against what she calls “the impenetrable power of the medical establishment and large hospitals.”
The tragedy began on October 4, 2019, when Dong-hee underwent a tonsillectomy at Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital. Complications arose post-surgery, leading to bleeding that required additional cauterization. Prosecutors later found that the attending physician failed to document this procedure and its potential risks in the medical records.
Despite Dong-hee’s need for close monitoring due to severe pain and dehydration, he was discharged without proper instructions to his parents or the attending physician about potential emergencies.
The situation took a dire turn when Dong-hee began vomiting blood profusely at a secondary hospital. Paramedics attempted to return him to Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital, but were told the emergency room couldn’t accept him due to an ongoing CPR case. This claim, prosecutors discovered, was false — the CPR patient in question had been moved to intensive care two hours earlier.
“We trusted the doctor when he said the surgery went well and there was only slight bleeding,” Kim said. “As parents without medical knowledge, what choice did we have but to believe them?”
The case has exposed several alarming practices. A subsequent investigation revealed that a resident physician at Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital had falsified medical records using another doctor’s ID.
Four years ago, Kim’s son Dong-hee died after what his mother describes as a harrowing ordeal of medical missteps and denied care. The case, colloquially known as “emergency room ping-pong,” has thrust Kim into a prolonged legal battle against what she calls “the impenetrable power of the medical establishment and large hospitals.” (Yonhap)
Kim’s husband, battling cancer, staged one-man protests to uncover the truth behind their son’s death. He passed away in 2022, leaving Kim to continue the legal fight alone.
At the September 10 event organized by the Korea Alliance of Patients Organizations, legal and medical experts weighed in on the systemic issues highlighted by Dong-hee’s case.
Lee In-jae, a medical malpractice attorney, emphasized the need for legislation mandating explanations from healthcare providers in cases of medical accidents. “Current laws require explanations of potential complications before procedures, but there’s no legal obligation to clarify what went wrong afterward,” Lee said.
Professor Lee Sang-il of Ulsan University Medical School cited research showing that open communication following medical incidents significantly reduces patients’ inclination to sue. However, he noted, “Unfortunately, most hospitals in Korea are unprepared to handle these situations properly.”
The Korea Alliance of Patients Organizations has voiced strong opposition to the government’s proposed “criminal exemption for medical accidents” initiative. The group argues that such measures would further disadvantage patients in medical disputes and potentially compromise patient safety.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
