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Fri, January 22, 2021 | 14:39
Is chemical castration effective in preventing sex offenses?
실제 '화학적 거세' 받은 고교생의 반응
Posted : 2012-08-27 17:12
Updated : 2012-08-27 17:12
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Experts differ over the effectiveness of chemical castration in preventing sex offenses.

According to a survey of 50 experts conducted by the Korean Women’s Development Institute, 54 percent of respondents said chemical castration is useful in stopping such crimes.

However, urologists said the measure has little effectiveness.

Seo Joo-tae, a professor of urology at Kwandong University in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, said, “Although an ex-convict’s sexual desire is reduced, he can resort to violence by committing murder and other crimes.”

The professor also said if a man has psychiatric problems, it would likely have little effect.

As of Monday, the number of ex-convicts who despite wearing an electronic tracing anklet committed further crimes this year totaled 10 -- the comparable figure stood at one in 2008, three in 2010 and 15 in 2011.

Seo Jin-hwan, 42, was arrested on Aug. 20 on charges of attempted rape and murder. He killed a 37-year-old housewife he was attempting to rape, police said.

He sneaked into her house in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and tried to attack her. When the woman resisted, he stabbed her to death in the neck.

In the wake of the murder, the ruling Saenuri Party is seeking to expand the use of chemical castration, a treatment to reduce sexual desire in convicted sex offenders.

Chemical castration was adopted in July last year, but only one convict has been subject to the treatment so far, as the punishment is applied on very limited cases with controversy over human rights violations and potential side effects.

However, public calls for tougher measures against sex offenders have grown in recent weeks.



실제 '화학적 거세' 받은 고교생의 반응
'화학적 거세'로 불리는 성충동 약물 치료가 2년 전 국내 한 대학병원에서 이미 이뤄졌던 것으로 밝혀졌다. 만 18세 성도착증 환자가 받은 이 치료는 효과가 있다는 평가를 받았다. 28일 이 대학병원 의료진에 따르면 2010년 8월부터 상습 성추행으로 보호관찰 처분을 받은 18세 남성이 매달 1회 성욕을 억제하는 항남성호르몬제(GnRH) 주사를 맞았다. 고등학생이던 2009년부터 성추행 등 문제행동을 보여 1년 넘게 충동조절장애에 대한 약물복용치료와 상담치료를 받아도 나아지지 않자 부모의 동의와 병원 윤리심사위원회를 거쳐 행해진 것이다. 2011년 시행된 성폭력범죄자의 성충동 약물치료에 관한 법에 따라 법무부가 성범죄자에게 약물치료 명령을 처음 내린 것은 지난 5월이다. 의료진은 치료 시작 1년 뒤 투고한 논문에서 "환자가 치료 후 야한 동영상을 보는 횟수가 줄고 남성호르몬인 테스토스테론 혈중농도 감소로 성욕도 떨어져 안정된 생활을 하고 있다"고 밝혔다. 또한 "GnRH 투여 시 나타날 수 있는 부작용인 골다공증도 X선 검사 결과 이상 없었다"고 밝혔다. 치료를 맡은 전문의는 "환자가 치료 시작 후 2년 동안 문제행동이 없었고 생활이 안정되자 자신의 행동이 병이었다는 걸 깨달아 반성하는 모습을 보였다"고 치료 효과를 평가했다. 그는 "다만 3년 이상 경과를 지켜봐야 정확한 효과를 알 수 있다"고 덧붙였다. 환자는 현재도 매달 한 번 약물 투여를 받고 있다. 해외에서는 성범죄자 30명을 대상으로 1년 간 GnRH를 투여한 결과, 전원 성욕이 감퇴하는 효과가 입증된 바 있다. 이런 효과에도 불구하고 전문가들은 화학적 거세를 둘러싼 윤리 논란과 비용 부담 문제를 해결해야 진정한 성범죄 근절의 대안이 될 수 있다고 지적한다. 임명호 단국대 정신과 교수는 "정부가 일정 비용을 지원해 성도착증 환자의 적극적인 치료를 도울 필요가 있다"고 조언했다. 약물 투여비용은 22만원(월 1회)에서 55만원(3개월에 1회) 수준이다. 현행법에 따르면 성범죄자에 대한 약물 치료기간은 최장 15년이며 비용은 본인 부담이 원칙이나 경제력이 안 되는 자에 한해 국가가 지원한다.









 
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