7 Professors at Ajou University Pediatric Emergency Center Resign Over Infant Death Case
Seven professors at Ajou University Hospital's Regional Pediatric Emergency Medical Center, whose facilities were searched and seized by police (a procedure in which police search a site to find evidence) as part of an investigation into an infant's death, expressed their intent to resign on the 27th, according to reports. Rep. Han Ji-a of the People Power Party said during the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee audit that day, "I learned this after communicating with the Ajou center director for the first time," adding, "I urged them not to quit, but they said their hands were trembling and that they could no longer treat patients under the jurisdiction of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency." Of the nine board-certified pediatric emergency medicine specialists working at the center, seven reportedly conveyed their intent to resign. However, the hospital said that as of the 28th, no formal resignation letters had been received and none of the specialists had actually left their posts.
The resignations were reportedly triggered directly by the police search and seizure. A four-month-old infant died in July while receiving treatment at the center, and after the bereaved family filed a complaint alleging medical negligence, the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency conducted a search and seizure of the treatment rooms and other facilities on the 30th of last month. The hospital said police had demanded computer checks and document submissions for about an hour and a half while emergency patients were being treated.
The investigators' position was also confirmed at the audit that day. Ham Young-wook, head of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit, who appeared as a witness, repeated only that he felt it was "regrettable," despite demands for an apology from both ruling and opposition lawmakers. Ham said, "I express deep respect for the dedication of the medical staff who work around the clock to protect the lives of the people," adding, "As the head of the investigation, I regret the disruptions to medical care experienced by the pediatric emergency room staff during the search and seizure." He explained, "The dedicated medical accident investigation team consulted with hospital officials in advance, and the search was carried out only to the minimum extent necessary, in an unoccupied treatment room and with officials present."
Responding to this, Rep. Han argued that the police explanation that medical care had not been disrupted was untrue. She said, "When they asked the hospital, 'Can you hand over the CCTV footage?' the hospital also seemed reluctant," pointing out, "It is a burden to create friction with the police agency that has jurisdiction over them." She added, "I was told that yesterday the southern police agency contacted the hospital and demanded the full list of medical staff on duty on July 15, the day the infant died," noting, "The medical staff say that demand alone made it difficult for them to continue treating patients."
Rep. Han urged Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eun-kyung to take action, saying, "If Chief Ham had simply apologized, this would not have happened," and, "We cannot allow the pediatric emergency center of Ajou University Hospital, the largest hospital in Suwon, to close its doors." Minister Jung responded, "I will consult further with the National Police Agency." Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Lee Man-hee also said, "We will accurately determine the circumstances and consult with the committee secretaries from both parties to devise a response at the committee level."
