Heart failure and cardiac arrest patients rejected by 22 hospitals in Korea

Amidst an unresolved medical and political crisis in South Korea, a female heart failure patient who subsequently suffered cardiac arrest was turned away by 22 hospitals before being admitted to a hospital more than 100km away.

The medical strike in South Korea, which broke out in February 2024, has yet to be resolved between the two sides - Photo: AFP

The Straits Times reported on January 9th that a female heart failure patient was turned away by 22 hospitals before being accepted by one more than 100km away, marking another case of an emergency patient unable to receive necessary care amid the ongoing medical strike and political crisis in South Korea.

Accordingly, emergency services in Cheongju, 112km south of Seoul, received a report from a man at around 2 PM on January 7th, stating that his girlfriend had stopped breathing.

Upon arrival, medical staff reported that the patient, approximately 30 years old, had almost stopped breathing despite her boyfriend's previous attempts at resuscitation.

The woman suffered a sudden heart attack while drinking alcohol and was determined to require emergency medical attention.

Rescue workers quickly contacted 22 hospitals in North and South Chungcheong provinces, as well as the Seoul area. However, all hospitals refused to admit the patient, citing a lack of specialists or resources such as medical equipment, wards, or personnel necessary for treatment.

Three hours after her heart stopped, the female patient was finally admitted and treated at Suwon Hospital in Gyeonggi Province, 100km away.

Medical staff said the patient's condition was critical at the time, and she only regained consciousness before arriving at Suwon Hospital.

After resuscitation, the female patient experienced difficulties communicating. Doctors are now monitoring to see if the heart failure will cause any long-term damage, such as paralysis.

The doctors' strike in South Korea broke out in February 2024, in protest against the government 's plan to increase the enrollment quota for medical students.

This confrontation has led to severe staffing shortages at hospitals, with increasing reports of emergency patients being denied treatment.

From February 19th to August 25th, 2024, 3,071 emergency patients were denied treatment by hospitals. During this period, the number of denied treatment increased by 46.3% compared to the same period before the strike began.

Despite lasting nearly a year, the health crisis in South Korea shows no signs of ending. The turbulent political situation in the country only makes the problem more difficult and harder to resolve completely.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/benh-nhan-suy-tim-ngung-tim-bi-22-benh-vien-tu-choi-o-han-quoc-20250110114235611.htm