Ex-Employee Reveals Hani’s Fiancé: Patient Death Is Not the First Major Incident

Following a tragic incident involving a patient death at W Jin Hospital, overseen by psychiatrist and public figure Yang Jae-woong, new allegations have surfaced. These claims suggest that the hospital has been actively managing connections with relevant governmental agencies for over ten years, employing specialized staff for this purpose.

On October 17th, Hankyoreh published insights from a former staff member, referred to as A, who worked at W Jin Hospital. The article indicated that issues related to inadequate patient care were not isolated to the recent death but had occurred previously.

A remarked on the hospital’s practices, stating, “First and foremost, their patient care is lacking. This was evident in the incident from May. I understand that the patient was desperately banging on the isolation room door, in severe distress and unable to control their bodily functions. Instead of moving her to a higher-level facility, they continued administering medication and restrained her without a physician’s examination. They effectively abandoned her. There have been other serious incidents prior to this.”

A also mentioned an alarming event from around 2017 when a patient on the second floor accessed a box cutter and attempted suicide in the ward’s smoking area. He stated, “Typically, security personnel would inspect patients’ belongings upon their admission or readmission, but there were no guards available on the second floor that day. This incident was a direct result of insufficient medical staff during specific hours. First responders, including fire department paramedics, had to rely on administrative staff for immediate aid like controlling the bleeding.”

Initially, Dr. Yang refuted these accusations, labeling them as “unfounded.” However, when provided with details about the incident’s timing, he conceded its occurrence but defended the hospital’s protocols. He explained, “At that time, the area was classified as an open ward, where movement was more fluid for patients, which made it easier for harmful items to be brought in, and it was difficult to enforce thorough inspections.” In response, A contested this, suggesting that although the hospital categorized the second floor as an open ward, it functioned more like a closed ward, restricting patients’ movement outdoors.

A further disclosed that the hospital had been systematically nurturing relationships with important government agencies for over a decade. Dr. Yang initially rejected this notion but later elaborated, stating, “The individual in question has been with our hospital since it opened and has over 30 years of experience in mental health, now earning an annual salary of approximately 140 million won.”

Dr. Yang continued, “Due to the nature of psychiatric care, which involves patients at risk of self-harm or harming others, consistent communication with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, local health centers, and law enforcement (especially for handling psychiatric emergencies) is vital. This individual does not solely focus on government relations but is also responsible for overall hospital management.”

Earlier this May, a woman in her 30s, identified as B, who was admitted for diet pill addiction, died after a 17-day stay at Yang Jae-woong’s facility. This situation became public knowledge in July, shortly after B’s demise.

The grieving family has since filed a criminal complaint against the hospital staff for negligent homicide and approached the National Human Rights Commission for recourse. Law enforcement is currently investigating the hospital’s chief director and team for breaches of medical law.

Dr. Yang expressed remorse, stating, “Regarding the unfortunate incident during hospitalization, I, alongside the entire medical team, cannot express enough how devastated we feel. We sincerely apologize to the grieving family dealing with the loss of their loved one.” However, his delayed response, occurring two months after the incident, has drawn public scrutiny.

Notably, Yang Jae-woong was supposed to marry Hani, a member of a girl group and actress with whom he has been publicly associated; however, their wedding plans have been postponed indefinitely amidst mounting criticism aimed at both Yang and his fiancée, Hani.

Source: Daum

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