By Jung Min-ho
Unlike many countries in the West, Korea has two types of doctors ― the conventional doctors most people are familiar with, and Oriental medicine practitioners, who use techniques such as acupuncture and moxibustion.
One of the long-running disputes between the two groups is whether to allow Oriental doctors to use modern medical appliances to treat their patients.
According to industry sources Thursday, another device was recently added to the list of devices that Oriental doctors cannot use, following a decision by an appeals court.
On Sept. 19, an Oriental doctor was fined 400,000 ($380) by the Seoul Eastern District Court for using an intense pulsed light (IPL) machine, which is used to perform skin treatments such as hair removal.
According to the Korean medical laws, doctors, dentists, nurses and Oriental doctors are all classified as “health care providers,” and they are only allowed to provide medical services they are trained for.
But the problem is that Oriental medicine doctors are not usually trained in specific tasks, and the laws do not clearly spell out what they can and cannot do. Thus, courts have to make a decision on a case-by-case basis.
“IPL was not designed based on the principles of Oriental medicine. Also, the device is not supposed to be used for the principles,” the court said in a statement. “There is a risk that patients could get physically hurt by it.”
The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which represents conventional doctors, welcomed the decision.
“We expect to see more lawsuits against Oriental doctors who are providing illegal medical treatments,” Shin Hyun-young, spokesman for the union, said. “We will continue to respond strongly against such acts.”
So far, courts have been in favor of the KMA. According to an Oriental doctor, who refused to be named, the only device he can “legally use” is one for tonometry after a decision by the Constitutional Court last year.
“But we cannot use machines like CT and ultrasound machines. And there are other similar lawsuits ongoing and more are expected,” he said.