Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the current status of legal disputes in the Oriental medical clinics and hospitals in South Korea, and to suggest their possible solutions. Methods: Legal dispute cases advised by the Association of Korean Medicine from January 2005 to April 2012 were collected and analyzed. Results: 196 Oriental medical dispute cases were analyzed for the study. Problems in musculoskeletal system and connective tissues (37 cases) were the most common cause of Oriental medical disputes. As per treatment methods related to the dispute, acupuncture (66 cases) and herbal medicine (63 cases) were indicated as the two most common causes. The most common initial problems the patients had at the beginning of their treatment were musculoskeletal system and connective tissues problems (87 cases). Out of 196 dispute cases, only 49 were found to be the fault of Oriental medical doctors. Conclusions: This study can be used as a basis to prevent possible Oriental medical disputes. Subsequent studies should be based on a more comprehensive and extensive range of data.
