Senior doctors at 3 Severance hospitals to stop practicing medicine from June 27

Following the move of medical professors at four Seoul National University (SNU)-affiliated hospitals, those at three Severance hospitals under Yonsei University Health System decided to take an indefinite leave of absence from June 27.

The emergency committee of medical professors at Severance University College of Medicine said on Wednesday that they would stop practicing medicine indefinitely from June 27 unless the government takes tangible steps to resolve the issue of increasing medical school student quotas. 

Senior doctors at three Severance hospitals -- Severance Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital, and Yongin Severance Hospital --  are expected to take a one-day leave of absence on June 18 in response to the Korean Medical Association's general strike, and then go on an indefinite leave of absence from June 27, suspending outpatient treatment and non-emergency surgeries and procedures. 

However, emergency rooms, intensive care units, dialysis units, and child delivery rooms will remain open, they said. 

The decision was based on a survey of medical professors at Yonsei University College of Medicine who were asked what kind of action they would take if the government maintained its stance to increase medical school quotas even after June 18 when doctors go on a general strike. 

Of the 735 professors who responded to the survey, 531 responded that they would take an indefinite leave of absence and implement it, representing 72.2 percent. Of the 735 professors who responded, 204, or 27.8 percent, said they would not take an indefinite leave of absence. 

In addition, 61 percent (448) responded that they would support and participate in the action plan proposed by the emergency committee at Yonsei. Another 219 respondents (29.8 percent) said they would decide on each action plan, while 68 respondents (9.2 percent) said they would not.

Earlier, professors at SNU College of Medicine, working at four SNU-affiliated hospitals, decided to stop practicing medicine indefinitely from June 17. 

Professors at Ulsan National University College of Medicine, working as senior physicians at Asan Medical Center and related hospitals, are also discussing a similar plan.