• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.113-142
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• 2018

In recent years, there have been opinions in which physicians are liable to the revocation of their medical license if they are sentenced to above a certain level for criminal charges regardless of the types of offenses. Accordingly, a revised bill of law was submitted in the National Assembly, and related discussions are thus expected to commence. Considering the morality and ethics or the level of the rule of law that the general public expects of physicians, as well as the license revocation system in other professional sectors, it is assessed that medical license revocation due to criminal convictions of physicians is appropriate to some degree. However, if a poorly devised system is established based on unrefined inferences or emotional judgements, unexpected side-effects are likely to arise. With regard to serious criminal acts that society generally perceives as unacceptable, it can be assessed that the revocation of physicians' licenses would appropriately protect the general public from threats. However, given the life-saving characteristics of high-risk medical practices, higher malpractice exposures, and social values, it is difficult to assess charges of professional negligence resulting in death(or in injury) and minor offences in the same manner as anti-social criminal offences are handled. Physicians need to be treated the same as any other professions. At the same time, they are engaged in administering medical treatment to patients in the face of great risks as professionals. Under the circumstances, a discussion on the introduction of a more specific and empirical system is needed by considering the intrinsic characteristics of medical treatment and the need for an equitable health and medical policy. Accordingly, based on the above judgment and perception, this study explores the code of ethics for physicians and medical license revocation related to criminal offences at home and abroad, and examines various legislative alternatives appropriate for the Republic of Korea. In doing so, the purpose of the study is to contribute to the development of a reasonable system for handling criminal offences by physicians.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.207-229
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• 2019

It is a general recognition that more serious criminal acts in a certain area of society should be given more serious condemation than the same general crimnal act. In particular, considering the purpose of the medical treatment and the trust relationship between the doctor and the patient, the sexual violence by doctor in medical field can not be placed on the same line as that of the general public. But the special legislation to solve this through criminal legal sanctions is not desirable. The basic principle of criminal law ist ultima ratio, so the principle of supplementality. It means to try to solve by all possible means and finally to enter with punishment. A flat and hasty Reaction without the considering of the speciality of medical treatment will cause serious cracking in that area. In addition, it will not be able to expect desirable results in legal practice by breaking down the legal system. Rather, administrative regulation is more efficient than punishment sanctions. But the best way is autonomous control by members of the medical area. Penalties in criminal law must make an enterance at the last, and administrative regulation should be timely intervene in specific situations through diversification. In conclusion, state interventions should be farthest in order to proceed to autonomous control of medical area.