The Police handed over a large number of doctors and hospital staff to the prosecution following further investigations into two hospitals linked to the Apgujeong Rolls-Royce incident that occurred in Seoul’s Gangnam district last year. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Drug Crime Investigation Unit announced on July 4 that they have sent 42 people, including two doctors from two clinics, 14 hospital staff, and 26 patients, to the prosecutors on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act. The two doctors’ assets worth $1.45 million were seized before prosecution.
Doctors Accused of Administering Narcotics 549 Times
According to the police, seven hospital staff members, including Dr. Yeom who prescribed narcotics to the perpetrator who killed a pedestrian while driving under the influence of drugs in a Rolls-Royce identified as Shin, are accused of administering four types of narcotics a total of 549 times to 28 patients under the guise of cosmetic surgery. The narcotics in question were Midazolam, Diazepam, Propofol, and Ketamine.
They charged $217-239 per administration, accumulating a total of $622,000. They are also accused of avoiding the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s misuse inspection by writing medical records in other people’s names (91 people) or falsifying drug administration records to the head of the Food and Drug Administration.
The police also charged Yeom with involuntary manslaughter related to the Rolls-Royce incident as they believed he failed to fulfill his duty to ensure the patient’s safe return home. Yeom discharged Shin despite knowing he was under the influence of drugs, leading to the accident.
Yeom was sentenced to 17 years in prison and a fine of $3,800 on June 13 on charges of prescribing narcotics to Shin and sexually assaulting patients.
Another Doctor Administering Similar Drug Also Prosecuted
The police have also forwarded to the prosecution of another doctor and nine other hospital staff for violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and the Act on Special Measures for the Control of Public Health Crimes. They are accused of administering Etomidate, known as the second Propofol, to Hong, who threatened someone with a knife during a parking dispute in Gangnam last September.
Although Etomidate is not classified as a narcotic under the Narcotics Control Act, it has been socially controversial due to its misuse. This is the first time that charges of violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act have been applied to doctors and others who have illegally administered Etomidate.
They are accused of administering Etomidate a total of 8,921 times to 75 patients from September 2019 to September of last year. They charged $75-$150 per administration, earning approximately $908,500. They provided drug sales, administration of drugs, and sleeping facilities to patients despite the absence of a pharmacist. They are also accused of having nurses and nursing assistants administer Etomidate, which can only be administered by a doctor.
A police official said, “There is often a misconception that Etomidate is not illegal and only results in a fine instead of criminal punishment,” adding, “Etomidate should be designated as a narcotic or managed at the level of narcotics.” They also mentioned that they have recommended the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Justice to designate Etomidate as a narcotic.
