KMID : 0986720150230020113
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Korean Journal of Medicine and Law 2015 Volume.23 No. 2 p.113 ~ p.141
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A Review on the Joint and Several Guaranty Clause in Hospitalization Contract : Focused on Patient¡¯s Rights to Health
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Hong Kwan-pyo
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Abstract
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A hospitalization contract is a medical contract between patient and hospital that is signed when a patient is to check in the hospital for treatments. The hospitalization contract is usually made in a form of hospitalization agreement unilaterally prepared by the hospital in advance. The form consists of a hospitalization contract and a joint and several guaranty contract for the payment of patient¡¯s medical expenses. This article starts with the fact that some hospitals still use a form of hospitalization agreement that is not in conformity with ¡°the standard terms and conditions for hospitalization contracts¡± revised by the Fair Trade Commission in October 2014, which specify that a joint and several guaranty contract for hospitalization is optional. In fact, a joint and several guaranty clause in such forms can impel patients to accompany with someone who will be a co-signer, in general of hospitalization contracts. Therefore, the hospitalization agreement of such kind itself can be subject to Article 6 Unfair Clauses in Terms and Conditions of ¡°the Act on the Regulations of Terms and Conditions¡±. Further, if a patient is denied hospitalization contract on the ground of lacking a joint or several guaranty, it would amount to a violation of Article 15 (1) Prohibition of Refusal to Give Medical Examination or Treatment of ¡°the Medical Service Act¡±. This study looks at the meaning of the rights to health in Article 36 (3) of ¡°the Constitution of the Republic of Korea¡± and Article 12 of ¡°the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Right¡±. Afterwards, it reviews the State¡¯s responsibility in securing the patient¡¯s rights to health, which can be restricted by the demand for joint and several guaranty in making a hospitalization contract. This article thereby seeks for possible measures for improvement.
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KEYWORD
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Hospitalization Contract, Joint and Several Guaranty, Obligation to Diagnose and Treat, Standard Terms and Conditions, Rights to Health, Human Rights
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