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🇰🇷 South Korea /Crime & Justice

Intellectually disabled man's death in South Korean hospital prompts investigation

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Under investigation
  • A man with severe intellectual and autism disabilities died seven months after being admitted to Bangudae Hospital in Ulsan.
  • His sister alleges neglect and questions the hospital's explanation of the cause of death.
  • The case highlights the challenges faced by severely disabled individuals seeking long-term care and the potential for inadequate conditions in some facilities.

The death of Jung Min-cheol, a 29-year-old man with severe intellectual and autism disabilities, seven months after his admission to Bangudae Hospital in Ulsan, has raised serious questions about the care he received.

His sister, Jung Ok-kyung, described her brother as someone she cared for deeply, likening him to a child. Min-cheol was diagnosed with severe intellectual disabilities and autism in childhood. After his parents passed away three years ago, his care became a significant challenge, leading to his admission to Bangudae Hospital, a facility known as a last resort for individuals with severe developmental disabilities.

My brother was like a baby to me my entire life. Even when he grew bigger and we sometimes had physical fights, he was always the little brother I held hands with and went to school with in elementary school.

· Jung Ok-kyungDescribing her relationship with her deceased brother.

Min-cheol was found unresponsive on January 26, 2024, with signs of cyanosis around his lips, and was pronounced dead at a transfer hospital due to unspecified cardiac arrest. The hospital has attributed his death to a thyroid condition, but has not provided a clear explanation of the causal link. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is investigating the death, along with other reported incidents of abuse and death at the hospital.

He was already very thin and seemed to have no energy. I thought it was because of the closed ward and the medication, but I was upset.

· Jung Ok-kyungRecalling her last visit to her brother at Bangudae Hospital.

Ok-kyung decided to speak out after viewing CCTV footage showing her brother being assaulted by another patient. She also stated that police mentioned the perpetrator and hospital staff's potential negligence during their investigation. The hospital has denied responsibility for the previously reported abuse and death cases, and continues to maintain that Min-cheol's death was due to a thyroid condition.

The case underscores the precarious situation of severely disabled individuals who often have limited options for long-term care. Min-cheol's sister and a former caregiver from his previous facility have expressed concerns about the medications he was given at Bangudae Hospital, suggesting they may have contributed to his declining health. The investigation into his death is ongoing, with authorities seeking to determine the exact cause and any potential negligence.

The medication changed, and it seems Min-cheol was constantly lethargic.

· Former caregiverCommenting on Min-cheol's condition after being transferred to Bangudae Hospital.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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