▲ ⓒKorean Women’s Medical Association
An all-out war has begun with doctors fiercely attacking the advancement of oriental medical doctors into skin care. As the medical corps is in a protracted situation and conflicts between officials are escalating, it is time for the authorities to organize traffic.
On the 22nd, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) and the Korean Oriental Medicine Association (KMA) showed sharp differences in their positions on the use of lasers and prescription drugs by oriental medical doctors. Contrary to the claim of the Korean Medical Association that it is an illegal act without a license, the Korean Medical Association emphasizes that it is a legitimate act.
Last year, the conflict seemed to have been resolved with the Supreme Court ruling allowing oriental medical doctors to use modern medical devices such as ultrasound and electroencephalography, but this time, the use of cosmetic medical devices and prescription drugs was on the chopping block.
The controversy began when it was revealed that the Seoul Oriental Medicine Association has been seeking to allow Oriental medicine doctors to enter related markets by opening a skin care center since last April. The Korean Medical Association called it ‘obviously illegal’ and said it would take legal action.
The Oriental Medicine Special Committee of the Korean Medical Association said, “Obvious medical devices such as lasers and HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) are being used under the guise of skin care devices.” “We are also providing education,” he said.
More than a dozen public health center complaints are being received regarding this issue. Contents of a KakaoTalk group chat room were also leaked showing that resigning residents and medical students on leave of absence would be paid 400,000 won per week if they filed a complaint for violating the medical law.
Accordingly, the Seoul Oriental Medical Association sent an official letter to the heads of each district public health center, saying, “We requested protection last year due to continuous complaints and business interruption regarding the use of lasers in oriental medical clinics.” “Please cooperate to prevent this from happening.”
An official from the Seoul Oriental Medical Association explained, “Laser and skin surgery are being taught at Oriental medicine universities and are also provided as continuing education by Oriental medicine doctors. In particular, there are Oriental medicine dermatologists, and the relevant practice area falls within the practice area of Oriental medicine doctors.”
He continued, “Laser acupuncture using a laser surgical device is currently covered by oriental medicine health insurance and has been a medical practice performed by oriental medical doctors for a long time. Last year, the administrative court ruled that ‘oriental medical doctors can use laser surgical devices.’” He said.
To date, it is estimated that approximately 500 oriental doctors have been trained at the Seoul Oriental Medical Association Skin Care Center, and the plan is to continue training in the future.
An official from the Seoul Oriental Medical Association Skin Care Center said, “The reason why there are problems with local and essential medical care is because of the situation where doctors are shedding their title as specialists and advancing into skin care,” adding, “However, there is a problem with trying to maintain exclusive rights in this field.” “There are no legal issues with oriental medicine doctors, so we will provide quality education,” he said.
◆ Lidocaine controversy spreads… The court ruled in favor of the doctor
The new phase of conflict has expanded to whether oriental medicine doctors’ use of ‘lidocaine’, a local anesthetic and anti-arrhythmic drug, is justified. The court had been in a mood to allow modern medical devices, but this time it sided with the doctor.
Recently, the Seoul Southern District Court ruled in an appeal case in which an oriental medical doctor was indicted for illegally using lidocaine in herbal acupuncture procedures that the oriental medical doctor’s use of lidocaine constituted an unlicensed medical practice.
In 2022, there were circumstances in which oriental medicine doctor A used lidocaine, a prescription drug, in herbal acupuncture procedures for the purpose of anesthesia and pain relief, and the trial began after lawyer Lee Jae-hee, legal director of the Korean Medical Association, who caught this, filed a complaint.
The court ruled, “Considering comprehensively the usage and side effects of lidocaine, the claim that it was used as an auxiliary means of oriental medicine cannot be accepted,” accepting the prosecutor’s argument and finding him guilty.
The Korean Medical Association welcomed the ruling, saying, “It has been proven that the use of prescription drugs by oriental medical doctors is beyond the scope of license,” and “This ruling reaffirms that abuse by those who have not received sufficient training on the dangers of prescription drugs must be eradicated.” made a statement.
On the other hand, the Association of Oriental Medicine said, “The series of lawsuits related to the scope of license will continue until the Supreme Court makes a decision,” and added, “No charges were filed in the case in 2019 when the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office reported a pharmaceutical company that sold lidocaine to an oriental medicine doctor.” “A decision was made not to indict.”
