A clinic in Seoul has been identified as the source of a massive hepatitis C outbreak, raising serious concerns about the safety of procedures performed at medical facilities.

Health authorities said the clinic reused disposable syringes, which led to the spread of the hepatitis C virus among its outpatients. Authorities have begun testing 2,268 people who have been treated at the clinic since May 2008 and, of the 779 people tested through Saturday, 76 people have tested positive for the hepatitis C antibody. The number is likely to climb as more people are tested and the possibility of other blood-borne diseases having spread at the clinic cannot be ruled out.

The reuse of disposable syringes is a highly risky practice that should never have taken place at a medical clinic. It is abhorrent that the doctor knowingly put his patients at tremendous risk: Not only is he unethical, his actions put the patient’s health and, in some cases, lives in jeopardy. The authorities must investigate why the clinic reused disposable syringes that cost only 100 won (86 cents) each.

It has also come to light that the doctor suffers neurological and speech disabilities stemming from a car accident three years ago in which he suffered a brain hemorrhage. It is said the doctor needed assistance in moving about and that his disabilities were noticeable. Yet, he continued to administer injections and his wife ran the hospital on his behalf. 

The fact that the doctor was allowed to continue his medical practice although he was clearly unfit to do so has raised alarm bells about how many more mentally and physically unfit medical professionals are treating patients.

The current medical licensing system that requires doctors to receive annual training and report on the license every three years was shown to be clearly inadequate in this doctor’s case. In fact, the case is an illustration of how easily that system can be abused. To meet the training requirements, the doctor’s wife attended classes in his stead and was not prevented from doing so. It may very well be that there are many other similar instances where a proxy attends the required training on behalf of the doctor.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it would form a consultative body to reform the current license reporting system for medical professionals. In considering reforms, the experts should consider making medical licenses periodically renewable. At the moment, the licenses are valid for a lifetime. Furthermore, there must be ways to sanction doctors engaging in malpractice and unethical activities. The Korean Medical Association should be given the power to revoke licenses, just as the Korean Bar Association has the power to regulate the industry it represents.