Human Rights Commission Files Negligence Charges Against Ulsan Hospital Director

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of South Korea has taken a significant step by filing a criminal complaint against the director and administrative head of Ulsan's Banguidae Hospital. The complaint, lodged with the prosecution, accuses them of professional negligence resulting in death (업무상 과실치사). This action follows a joint investigation by the NHRC and the Ministry of Health and Welfare into alleged human rights abuses at the psychiatric facility.

The investigation uncovered a deeply disturbing environment within the hospital, reminiscent of notorious past institutions. Reports detail locked wards, damaged facilities, soiled mattresses, and pervasive issues of assault, constant confinement (isolation), and restraint, along with the blocking of external contact for patients. The hospital, often referred to as the 'end hospital' due to its high proportion of involuntary admissions and patients with communication difficulties, has been under scrutiny for years.

Specifically, the NHRC highlighted five suspicious deaths reported over the past five years, concluding that the hospital significantly failed in its duty to ensure patient safety and provide adequate supervision. The commission confirmed three additional deaths beyond those previously reported by the media, including two intellectually disabled patients who died of 'traumatic brain hemorrhage' and 'unspecified cardiac arrest' respectively, with their causes of death being misrepresented in official records. Another patient was found deceased in a teacher-like state.

Furthermore, the investigation exposed severe instances of isolation and restraint. One intellectually disabled patient was found to have been in continuous isolation for over 2282 hours in a small room, a duration approximately 160 times the national average. The NHRC has recommended that the hospital director implement measures to minimize isolation and restraint, and has urged the Ministry of Health and Welfare to revise guidelines and establish effective oversight mechanisms. The commission also plans to persistently request the government to develop long-term plans for patients with developmental disabilities in psychiatric institutions.