Doctor Reporting Rebates Acquitted of Defamation Amid Online Physician Bullying

A doctor who reported alleged pharmaceutical rebates has been cleared of defamation charges by a lower court, in a case that has brought to light the toxic online environment within physician-exclusive communities. The doctor, identified as Professor A from Sanggye Paik Hospital, had reported suspicions of kickbacks and unnecessary vitamin prescriptions to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission in 2022.

Following the report, Professor A faced a barrage of online attacks on physician forums like Medigate and Medistaff. Posts and comments labeled the doctor a "traitor" and called for their ostracization from the medical community, with some even including personal attacks and sexually suggestive remarks. Doctor B, accused of spreading false information, was found not guilty by the Busan District Court, which stated it could not definitively conclude that Doctor B was aware of the falsity of the claims.

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He's a traitor.

This incident echoes similar issues seen during the recent resident doctor strikes, where online communities were used to harass and threaten doctors who returned to work. Legal experts emphasize the need for more robust systems to immediately block or delete defamatory content and for stricter penalties for posts that cross legal boundaries. Lawyer Kwak Jun-ho suggested strengthening response systems for swift content removal and implementing rigorous post-incident punishment.

Professor A has also filed a lawsuit against the operators of Medistaff, accusing them of failing to take appropriate action against abusive posts and obstructing evidence collection. The investigation into the rebate allegations themselves is ongoing, having been transferred to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency after an initial dismissal by the Nowon Police Station.

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Let's bury him.