Army Surgeon Admits Fatal Malpractice

The bereaved family of Private Park (21), who died of a massive loss of blood while undergoing surgery for a hernia at a military hospital, said on Aug 15, “Captain A, the medical specialist who performed the surgery at Il-dong Military Hospital in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province admitted and apologized for medical malpractice.”

According to the bereaved family, the surgeon visited them at Military Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province about 3:00 p.m. August 15 and apologized that “Private Park died of a massive loss of blood because I cut his artery and vein during the operation.” And he also said that after the accident, Private Park was rushed to a civilian hospital with his severed blood vessels not properly attached due to lack of professional human resources and equipment.

The bereaved family and the military will ask the National Institute for Scientific Investigation (NISI) on August 16 for an autopsy of Private Park to find out the precise cause of death and see whether there was medical malpractice involved. Right after confirming the cause of death, Private Park’s funeral will take place within the regiment.

Private Park received surgery for a hernia at Il-dong Military Hospital on the afternoon of August 11, but during the surgery his artery and veins were severed. Then he was moved to Kangnam St.Mary’s hospital in southern Seoul for suture, but he died on the afternoon of August 13.

argus@donga.com