Original article is here: http://v.media.daum.net/v/20180426101030247?f=m
[Exclusive] They apologized right away to Han Ye-seul... but when an ordinary person complains about side effects, do they call the police?
-Side effects of eye cosmetic surgery... left-eye strabismus after under-eye fat repositioning surgery -After a post was uploaded to an internet cafe, threats of a defamation lawsuit -“It is difficult for ordinary people to prove medical accidents... the system must be improved”
[Herald Economy = Reporter Jung Se-hee] An incident occurred in which a patient who developed strabismus as a side effect of eye cosmetic surgery went to the doctor to complain, and the hospital called the police, claiming business interference. The hospital also threatened to sue the patient for defamation, saying that she had uploaded a post to an internet cafe informing others of the side effects. This contrasts with the recent case of actress Han Ye-seul (36), who suffered a medical accident while undergoing lipoma surgery, posted about it on her personal social networking service (SNS), and received a prompt apology from the hospital.
Ms. Kim (34), who lives in Songpa-gu, Seoul, developed strabismus and diplopia after undergoing under-eye fat repositioning surgery at a hospital in Seoul in early January this year. Immediately after surgery, the focus of both eyes did not align, so she could not see properly in front of her, and when she tried to read text, she had severe headaches. When Ms. Kim went to the hospital the day after surgery, the director acknowledged the possibility of strabismus and removed the stitches, saying, “It seems that fat around the muscle near the fat was pulled together.” However, the symptoms continued afterward.
Ms. Kim, who was diagnosed with strabismus as a side effect of cosmetic surgery. Ms. Kim went to protest to the hospital, but the hospital called the police. [Provided by reader] View enlarged image (image is in the original article)
However, after that, the hospital only repeated, “Let’s wait and see.” Feeling frustrated, she went to the hospital and said she wanted to talk with the director, but the hospital stopped her, saying, “The director does not want to meet.” When Ms. Kim appealed in the hospital lobby with her mother, saying she wanted to consult with the director, the hospital called the police for business interference. The police who were dispatched at the time returned after a few minutes. This was because Ms. Kim did not show signs of business interference, such as shouting at the hospital or damaging property.
In the end, Ms. Kim was able to meet the director. But in the meantime, the hospital called the police again. Again, the police returned, saying there was no basis for charges. Ms. Kim said, “I did not go in during another person’s treatment or raise my voice, so I do not know why they called the police,” and added, “It seems they were trying to pressure me.”
The hospital took the position that there was no choice because Ms. Kim visited without making a separate appointment. A hospital official said, “At the time, there were patients waiting for treatment, and they felt uncomfortable after seeing Ms. Kim raise an issue, so we called [the police],” and added, “We told Ms. Kim to visit after making an appointment, but she did not comply.”
That day, Ms. Kim received the doctor’s opinion that “the strabismus has completely disappeared.” Ms. Kim, who still could not focus her eyes and had to live with one eye closed, could not accept this. After visiting another ophthalmology clinic and undergoing an MRI examination and imaging tests, she was diagnosed with strabismus in the left eye.
The hospital also threatened Ms. Kim over the fact that she had uploaded a post about the side effects to an internet cafe.
Around mid-January, an acquaintance of Ms. Kim uploaded a post to an internet cafe about the cosmetic surgery side effects Ms. Kim experienced and the hospital’s response. Ms. Kim also left a comment saying that when choosing a hospital, one should look into it thoroughly. She did so in the hope that there would be no more victims. However, a hospital official who saw this threatened her, saying, “Didn’t you fabricate this? We will sue you for defamation.” They also added, “The director was going to compensate you, but if you upload posts like this on the internet, I don’t think we can [compensate you].”
Even now, because of strabismus, she cannot use a computer for long periods and cannot even go up and down stairs. She is still fighting with the hospital and the insurance company over the method of compensation. When Ms. Kim responded strongly, the hospital belatedly took the position that it would process the matter through insurance. A hospital official stated, “We are currently proceeding with insurance procedures for compensation.”
Ms. Kim recently mentioned Han Ye-seul’s medical accident and said bitterly, “She was able to receive even an apology because she is a celebrity. Countless ordinary people have no choice but to fight hospitals like I do.” She emphasized, “I sincerely hope that the unfavorable system, in which medical consumers must bear the burden of proof when they suffer a medical accident, will be improved.”
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