Patients say their blood is dry and their stomachs are burning as medical school professors announce mass resignation
Expectations that “patients will not be abandoned”… Medical staff express intention to make resignation a reality
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Jeong-jin, Jang Bo-in, Lee Mi-ryeong, and Lee Yu-lip = “It would be a really big deal if even professors were involved. Aren’t the patients telling them to die?”
Kim Myeong-bae (77), whom I met at the outpatient ward of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 25th, who announced that he would resign en masse, not only residents but also professors at medical schools across the country, said, “I come to see a doctor once every 3 to 4 months due to pulmonary fibrosis, but today there was a 36-minute delay. “I don’t know if it’s because the professors resigned, but I’ve been working at this hospital for 4-5 years and this is the first time I’ve waited this long,” he said, expressing his anger.
He said, “For patients like us, we don’t know much about the situation, but I just hope that the conflict between the government and doctors is resolved as soon as possible.”
With no clue to resolving the legislative conflict, even professors at medical schools across the country have announced their intention to leave the medical field starting this day, raising the concerns of patients and their guardians.
Most of the patients and guardians met at major university hospitals in Seoul that day said that they did not directly feel the resignation of professors or the resulting changes, but expressed anxiety that the medical gap would grow uncontrollably.
Jo Hyang-yeon (44), who underwent surgery for a recurrence of a sinus tumor after three years, said, “The surgery was delayed for a month due to the resident’s strike, and I am very anxious about what I will do if the professors leave. I am devastated.”
A guardian who revealed that his wife, who had undergone kidney transplant surgery, was hospitalized in the intensive care unit due to complications, said, “The people inside are bleeding and feeling sick, and it is shocking to see the government and doctors fighting with a dying patient hostage.” He added, “This is really a professor.” “I felt a great sense of crisis because I was afraid that everyone would resign,” he said.
Mr. Shin (58), whom we met at Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, also revealed that he had come to treat his mother-in-law’s skin cancer and said, “The professor said that chemotherapy is a ‘lifeline,’ but if you do not receive proper treatment due to a strike, won’t the doctor eventually cut that line? “He expressed his anger.
Mr. Kim (61), whom I met at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital in Seocho-gu, said, “(My husband) has hypopharyngeal cancer that has metastasized to the lungs and receives chemotherapy at the hospital once a month. Every time I see the news, I am scared to death because I wonder if the professor in charge is not at the hospital.” “When I came to the hospital today, I was very happy to see the professor in charge, but the future is a big problem,” he sighed.
This afternoon, at Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, there was an unusual crowd of patients in the emergency room.
An official from an emergency patient transport company said, “I don’t think the waiting line has ever been as long as it was today,” and added, “It seems like the professors are resigning from today, so patients may have come in anticipation that it will be more difficult to be hospitalized.”
Hamo (60), a pancreatic cancer patient who visited the emergency room for an endoscopic procedure, said, “There are too many patients waiting, so I have been waiting for 3 hours since the morning.” “They said, ‘I’ll call you when a bed becomes available,’ so I’m just waiting.”
Some patients expressed trust in the professor in charge and showed expectations that they would remain at the hospital.
Shim Hae-jin (82), who was admitted to Seoul National University Hospital to monitor the progress of heart surgery, said, “I was hospitalized yesterday, and when I told the professor in charge, ‘I thought I couldn’t see you because of the medical situation,’ he said, ‘I will do my best for the patients,’ so I was very grateful.” “These great people will stay for the patients,” he said.
Seo (77), who visited the hospital for her husband’s heart stent procedure, said, “I had a stent insertion procedure 10 years ago and have been doing regular checkups at the hospital once every six months. I thought the professor I had been seeing for a long time would abandon the patient.” “I don’t do it,” he said.
However, despite the optimism of some patients and guardians, medical staff said that the professors’ resignation would soon become a reality.
A surgical specialist at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital said, “I can’t say (whether or not I will resign) because the resignation letters are done individually,” but added, “I understand that (the resignation letters) are quite collected.”
Another specialist at this hospital said, “It’s been almost a month since I submitted my resignation letter,” and when asked if he was considering leaving the hospital, he answered “yes” and walked away.
Hospital officials also expressed concern about the professors’ collective resignation.
A Severance Hospital employee who requested anonymity said, “It is true that the overall work intensity has increased since the strike,” and added, “University hospitals are places where patients continue to flock, but if resignations and strikes spread, the remaining employees will have more work and patients will suffer more damage. “It will grow,” he worried.
A nurse at Seoul National University Hospital also declined to comment, saying, “It doesn’t seem like any professors have left the site yet, but it’s true that the atmosphere is turbulent.”
Report via KakaoTalk okjebo
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2024/04/25 16:40 Sent
Tags: professors leave .. Waiting emergency room crowded due outpatient delays comprehensive
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