• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.677-685
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the basic materials required for law revision regarding dental hygienists through perceptions and opinions of legislation amendments. Methods: The study was conducted from April 23, 2016. A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 797 dental hygienists in Seoul and Gyeonggido after receiving informed consent from institutional review board (IRB No. PO1-201602-23-001). Results: Necessity for dental hygienist-related medical law revision accounted for 92.4% and 85.4% of dental hygienists replied that specialized dental hygienist system must be established. The reasons for medical law revision were as follows; roles and education of medical technicians (60.6%), settlement of medical legal problems (48.0%), cooperation with other organizations (29.0%), political negotiations (17.4%), and national consensus (9.5%). The score for 'possible to get legal protection by the system establishment of roles and work scope of dental hygienists' was 4.11 of 5 points. Conclusions: It is important to establish the job scope of dental hygienist. The revision of dental hygienist-related law will help to enhance the status of dental hygienists as professional medical technicians in the future.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.337-361
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• 2010

In the case of Korea, both of modern medicine and oriental medicine are admitted as medical practices in the system. In other words, healthcare system is dualized. However, medical practice that corresponds to oriental medicine in Korea is substitution of medical practice in cases of foreign countries. For use of medical devices, it is provided only for doctors and medical technician relevant to use. Particularly, although oriental medicine is recognized as orthodox medicine in terms of the features of Korean medical system, superintendency of oriental doctors is not identical with that of doctors for use of medical devices and superintendency toward medical technicians. Recently, Cheongju District Court decided that superintendency of oriental doctor upon physical therapist is not acknowledged. It can be said that the judgement is opposed to the original verdict which judged that oriental doctors' employment and guidance of oriental doctors upon physical therapist is permissible. Hence this study aimed to review on domestic medical law system, which is dualized, roles of medical professionals, intent of the medical license system, provisions related to medical technician law and relevant precedents. Regulations on practices other than licensed practices by medical professionals are made because medical practices may affect on danger toward life and body of human and public health also. Therefore, the nation regulates medical professionals having licenses to perform medical practices within the range of the licenses. It is clearly prescribed that medical technicians may perform medical practices under instructions of doctors or dentists pursuant to the medical technician law. In addition, the court also judges that it is out of the license of oriental doctors if they use CT devices and limits the use of modern medical devices by oriental doctors. That is to say that it limits oriental doctors' employment of medical technicians and pursuant of oriental doctors on medical technicians as well.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 1996

This study is to make legal suggestions concerning the legal status of the physical therapists and the their clinics io Korea. This study compares the legal status of the physical therapists with that of the optical and dental technicians, and reviews the current system of the American physical therapeutic clinic. 1. Under the supervision of the doctor or dentist' in Article 1 of Law concerning the Medical Technician should be deleted or changed into 'by the request of the doctor or dentist'. A new independent law should be mode only fer the physical therapist from the general law that stipulates the legal status of other similar medical technicians. 3. The legal status of the physical therapeutic clinic should be stipulated in the regulations for the application of the law as that of the dental technician does. The modification of the medical services, the medical expences, waiting time, the easy access to the clinic of farmers, fishermen, urban laborers, and handicapped people, and the development of the area of the physical therapy.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.397-406
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• 2021

Under the Act on Medical Technicians, etc. in Korea, medical technicians are supposed to perform their duties under the guidance of a doctor or dentist. However, considering the actual work behavior, domestic and international trends, and the level of education of medical technicians, professionalism must be recognized. Such a professional and independent operating system must guarantee the autonomy of medical technicians, and it can be said that changes are necessary in law. In other words, it is necessary to change to "request and prescription" rather than "supervision" according to the needs of the times when the concept of "request" and "cooperation" is applied in many countries and an excellent curriculum. These changes can be called the demands of the times and changes for the improvement of medical services and social contribution.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the "Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist Act" of Japan and the "Medical Technician's. Etc. Act" of Korea in order to establish the grounds for improvement of effective law-making. Methods: We obtained the "Medical Technician's. Etc. Act" from the Korean Ministry of Government Legislation and the "Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist Act" from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. It was translated from an association by related Japanese and experts. Results: The laws consisted of acts, enforcement ordinances, and enforcement regulations in both Korea and Japan. In the Korean case, eight occupations were defined in one law including six types of medical technicians, as well as medical recorders and opticians. The "Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist Act" in Japan is composed of 6 chapters and 22 articles, while the Korean Act consists of 33 articles without chapters. Among them, 11 articles covered the establishment and management of dental laboratories and eyeglass shops, and only 22 articles were related to physical therapists and occupational therapists. Conclusion: Independent laws should be established for each type of medical technician. They must be comparable to Japanese laws on physical therapists and occupational therapists as well as clinical pathologists, dental hygienists, dental technicians, radiologic technologists, medical recorders, and opticians.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1067-1077
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the opinions of some local clinical dental hygienists on medical personnel of dental hygienists. It will be for provide the Future dental hygienist basic data necessary for medical personnel. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 171 dental hygienists in Busan and Gyeongnam from December 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018. Structured questionnaires were uesd for analysis. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects(7 items), medical personnel necessity and opinions of dental hygienist(2 items), the opinions of distinction of the task between dental hygienists and other personnel(2 items), many frequency task in the dental clinic. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, descriptive statistics and ANOVA using IBM SPSS VER 20.0. Results: 89.5% of the dental hygienists required medical personnel of dental hygienist, the opinions on the necessity were as follows: 'role and quality improvement as oral health professionals', 'lack of legislation and application of dental hygienists duties'. There was no difference reason between dental hygienists and other personnel on duties, the reason were investigated to uncertainty of dental hygienist system, lack of dental hygienist workforce, dentists lack awareness of dental hygienist expertise. There was surveyed by the current many frequency duties in the dental clinic, assist for dental treatment, Oral health education and counselling, Preventive dental treatment. Conclusions: Legal guarantees for clinical dental hygienists work are absolutely required. Therefore, relevant government agencies and related organizations should resolve the contradiction of the legal system of medical law and medical technicians. The clinical dental hygienists should be promoted to medical personnel through the amendment of the medical law so that the duties practiced by the dental hygienist can be matched with the legal practice.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2020

Background: In Korea, laws for many medical technicians were revised in the Enforcement Decree of the Medical Technicians Act (MTA), which was announced on December 2018, whereas those related to dental hygienists remained unchanged. This study aimed to determine the awareness and opinions of dental hygienists regarding MTA. Methods: Dental hygienist were recruited as participants via convenient sampling in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, and Chungcheong-do; data from 291 self-reported questionnaire responses were used for the final analysis. We investigated the participants' general characteristics, awareness, and request for the amendment of the MTA. The compliance with the work scope specified in the MTA and level of demand for revision of the MTA were analyzed by independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance. For all statistical analyses, the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: For the 2018 MTA revision, 99 (34.02%) knew that dental treatment assistance and surgery assistance were excluded, whereas 192 (65.98%) did not know. The item "The current medical technician law must be revised" was scored 4.13±0.80 out of 5 points, and significant differences were identified according to the education level, career, and position (p<0.05). The item "It is necessary to institutionalize the expanded work scope beyond the work scope of dental hygienists specified in the MTA" was scored 4.02±1.04 out of 5 points, and significant differences were identified according to age (p<0.05). Conclusion: The participants wanted the MTA to be revised to reflect the real-world work performed by dental hygienists in the dental clinical field. The legal system must ensure the legal protection of the work area of the dental hygienist as an oral health professional, and recognize the legal work scope of the dental hygienist.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.39-53
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• 2021

Purpose: Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) have so far been trained as professionals under the same conditions, with no change in the 1995 Act. We aimed to find ways for them to secure expertise in accordance with social needs by strengthening the quality of the EMT education. Methods: This is a descriptive study comparing the operation status of the national emergency medical examination conducted by the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute, and the national examinations of EMT paramedic and EMT basic. The scope of the national examinations for EMT was compared by subject and area. Results: The national written exam for EMT paramedic consists of five areas. EMT basic does not include basic medicine in three related subjects, 11 areas, and 18 detail areas. Paramedic care does not include advanced pediatric life support. In addition, nine areas and 20 detail areas are not included. Conclusion: The study suggests the need for institutional supplementation so that those who have completed EMT basic and the subjects prescribed by the ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare at universities, etc., in the Higher Education Act can take the EMT paramedic national exam.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.30-49
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• 2007

An autopsy is a postmortem assessment or examination of a body to determine cause of death or manner of death. The author had surveyed Personnel's perception toward conducting an autopsy in general hospital with autopsy at YeungNam University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea from April, to May, 2007. The total number of 286 personnel consisted of 121 men(42.3%), 165 women(57.7%). There were 57 doctors(19.9%), 71 nurses(24.8%), 83 medical technicians (29.0%), 58 office workers(20.3%), and 17 others(5.9%). 61.4% of doctors had an experience of education for autopsy more than 2 times, but nurses(1.4%), medical technicians(15.7%), office workers(1.7%), and others(5.9%) had little experience. Response of conducting an autopsy for sudden death of respondent or respondent's family member was 59.6% of doctors, 22.5% of nurses, 39.8% of medical technicians, 41.4% of office workers, and 35.3% of others. Response of conducting an autopsy for sudden death of respondent's companion was 66.7% of doctors, 33.8% of nurses, 39.8% of medical technicians, 43.1% of office workers, and 17.6% of others. Response of conducting an autopsy for sudden death of patients in general hospital was 50.9% of doctors, 8.5% of nurses, 19.3% of medical technicians, 24.1% of office workers, and 17.6% of others. Survey about a proper institution for autopsy showed 73.7% of doctors for department of forensic medicine in medical school, and 62.0% of nurses, 59.0% of medical technicians, 46.6% of office workers, and 58.8% of others for National Institute of Scientific Investigation. Most of the respondents agreed with the forensic pathologist as the director of autopsy:98.2% of doctors, 94.4% of nurses, 96.4% of medical technicians, 89.7% of office workers, and 88.2% of others. Survey for necessity for autopsy showed responsiveness of doctors, 23.9% of nurses, 47.0% of medical technicians, 34.5% of office workers, and 23.5% of others. Survey for donation of him- or herself after death to the medical school or institution for the death investigation revealed responsiveness of 22.8% of doctors, 11.3% of nurses, 24.1% of medical technicians, 22.4% of office workers, and 23.5% of others. The result of the survey questionnaire showed more negative awareness for autopsy in nurses, medical technicians, office workers, others and than doctors. To improve the negative awareness for autopsy and settle proper postmortem inspection system, education of professional manpower for forensic medicine and inaction of law which is adequate for the actual circumstance of Korea should be considered.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2015

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to check the current status of accessability to rehabilitation therapy in local areas and to review how to improve the accessability. In fact, first, it is very hard for patients to find out a local medical center with rehabilitation therapy capability. Moreover they needs to wait long time to get a treatment they need, because of lack of nearby rehabilitation centers. The best way to enhance the accessability to the rehabilitation therapy service is to allow therapists to set up rehabilitation centers in local areas on their own, physically independent from medical doctors. Basically, the current law does not prohibit therapists' own sole practice. However, it needs to be amended by inserting an explicit legal basis on the setting-up process. If it is legally permissible for the therapists to set up rehabilitation centers to perform a rehabilitation treatment with referrals from of medical doctors (though physically independent from the doctors), it would result in the increase of profits for the doctors and at the same time raise therapists' freedom of occupation, a constitutional right. Furthermore, with their own places to practice, therapists will have to compete with other therapists, that would raise the quality of their treatments, which will in turn benefit patients ultimately. A proposed bill of amendments to the Act on Medical Technicians and etc. is pending for review at the National Assembly. I look forward to vigorous discussion on the bill based on this article, and resulting in revision of the law for the benefits of patients.