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KMID : 1234820220230010003
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Korean Society of Law and Medicine
2022 Volume.23 No. 1 p.3 ~ p.33
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Legal regulations on telemedicine and their problems
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Hyun Doo-Youn
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Abstract
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In relation to telemedicine in Korea's medical law, there are Articles 17, 17-2, and 34 of the Medical Act. Since ‘direct examination’ in Articles 17 and 17-2 of the Medical Act can be interpreted as ‘self-examination’ rather than ‘face-to-face examination’, it is difficult to see the above regulation as a regulation prohibiting telemedicine. Prohibiting telemedicine only with the concept of medical examination or the ‘principle of face-to-face treatment’ is against the principle of “nulla poena sine lege”(the principle of legality). However, in order to qualify as ‘examination’, it must be faithful enough to replace face-to-face examination, so issuing a medical certificate or prescription after a poor examination over the phone is considered a violation of the Medical Act. In that respect, the above regulation can be said to be a regulation that indirectly limits telemedicine.
On the other hand, most lawyers interpret that telemedicine between medical personnel and patients is completely prohibited based on Article 34, and the Supreme Court recently ruled that such telemedicine is not permitted even if there is a patient's request. However, this interpretation is not only far from the legislative intention at the time when telemedicine regulations were introduced into the Medical Act of 2002, but also does not match the needs of reality or the legislative trend of foreign countries. The reason is that telemedicine regulations are erroneously legislated. The premise of the legislation is wrong, and there are considerable problems in the form and content of the legislation. As a result, contrary to the original legislative intent, telemedicine was completely banned. In foreign countries, it is difficult to find cases where telemedicine is completely banned and criminal punishment is imposed for it. In order to fundamentally solve the problem of telemedicine, Article 34 of the Medical Act needs to be deleted.
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KEYWORD
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The Medical Act, telemedicine, Direct examination, Self-examination, face-to-face examination, principle of face-to-face treatment, Principle of “nulla poena sine lege”(the principle of legality)
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