• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.203-210
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• 2021

Difficulties in treating chronic prostatitis cause physical pain and mental problems not only for the treating doctor, but also for the patient. Accordingly, the device of the present research was developed to help patients suffering from prostate symptoms due to the vibration effect of shock wave energy caused by thermal and mechanical interaction of the external shock wave. The purpose of this study is to provide an effective treatment means for prostatitis and BPH(Benign prostatic hyperplasia) by devising an extracorporeal shockwave therapy device that effectively applies the heat and vibration effects of concentrated energy by MCU and spiral coil module.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.125-144
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• 2016

All forms of Clinical trial should be fully equipped with protection systems for experimental subjects considering their uncertainty and various risks. Existing laws have some regulations in pharmaceutical affairs act and medical device act. Nonetheless, there is a limit to protect the subjects considering law objective to perform administration of medicine. Furthermore, the clinical trial on minor has no direct regulations in pharmaceutical affairs act, but prescribes certain portion in clinical trial assessment guideline on infants or medicine clinical trial management standard, however there is a limit because that is just recommendation not having legal effectiveness. The legislative solution would be possible for legal problems of clinical trial on minor by examining treatment system on minor in organ transplant act and clinical trial on minor in other foreign laws stronger than usual medical practice in terms of degree of human body invasion. I suppose that the control system of clinical trial being done focusing on the pharmaceutical affairs act, medical device act and other guidelines in existing laws system should be resolved by legislating 'trial subject protection law', in addition, this would be well balanced in organ transplant act on protection system of minor organ donors. Furthermore, the judgement on the consent ability and spontaneity in clinical trial on minor should be judged considering maturity and mentality of minor by clinical trial institutional review board based on legislative solution mentioned above.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.147-196
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• 2023

Advances in brain science have made it possible to stimulate the brain to treat brain disorder or to connect directly between the neuron activity and an external devices. Non-invasive neurotechnologies already exist, but invasive neurotechnologies can provide more precise stimulation or measure brainwaves more precisely. Nowadays deep brain stimulation (DBS) is recognized as an accepted treatment for Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. In addition DBS has shown a certain positive effect in patients with Alzheimer's disease and depression. Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) are in the clinical stage but help patients in vegetative state can communicate or support rehabilitation for nerve-damaged people. The issue is that the people who need these invasive neurotechnologies are those whose capacity to consent is impaired or who are unable to communicate due to disease or nerve damage, while DBS and BCI operations are highly invasive and require informed consent of patients. Especially in areas where neurotechnology is still in clinical trials, the risks are greater and the benefits are uncertain, so more explanation should be provided to let patients make an informed decision. If the patient is under guardianship, the guardian is able to substitute for the patient's consent, if necessary with the authorization of court. If the patient is not under guardianship and the patient's capacity to consent is impaired or he is unable to express the consent, korean healthcare institution tend to rely on the patient's near relative guardian(de facto guardian) to give consent. But the concept of a de facto guardian is not provided by our civil law system. In the long run, it would be more appropriate to provide that a patient's spouse or next of kin may be authorized to give consent for the patient, if he or she is neither under guardianship nor appointed enduring power of attorney. If the patient was not properly informed of the risks involved in the neurosurgery, he or she may be entitled to compensation of intangible damages. If there is a causal relation between the malpractice and the side effects, the patient may also be able to recover damages for those side effects. In addition, both BCI and DBS involve the implantation of electrodes or microchips in the brain, which are controlled by an external devices. Since implantable medical devices are subject to product liability laws, the patient may be able to sue the manufacturer for damages if the defect caused the adverse effects. Recently, Korea's medical device regulation mandated liability insurance system for implantable medical devices to strengthen consumer protection.