Health ministry, police to keep talking on medical accident probes

The health ministry said Wednesday it held a working-level meeting with the National Police Agency to improve how criminal investigations into medical accidents in essential-care fields are conducted, following a Sept. 30 raid on a pediatric emergency medical center.

At the meeting, the two sides discussed the search and seizure at the pediatric specialist emergency medical center and agreed on the need to create an environment where frontline staff in essential-care fields can work without undue anxiety. They also decided to keep meeting to discuss investigation procedures for medical accidents in high-risk essential-care fields.

Both sides took account of the purpose behind revisions to two laws that shield essential-care doctors from criminal liability in some cases: the Act on Remedies for Injuries from Medical Accidents and Mediation of Medical Disputes, and the Emergency Medical Service Act.

"For essential-care fields such as pediatric emergency care to be sustained over the long term, an environment must be created where frontline medical staff can work without unnecessary anxiety," said Sohn Young-rae, head of the ministry's regional essential and public health care office. "To that end, we will continue to coordinate with the National Police Agency."