Allegations have been raised that doctors at Hanyang University Hospital systematically bullied nurses.

While nurses are protesting against doctors' power abuse, there are suspicions of persuasion and pressure from high-ranking officials at the university headquarter, hospital, and the Hanyang Foundation (Board of Trustees Chairman Kim Chong-yang), which is causing significant concern.

Hanyang University Hospital faced controversy in 2020 over "workplace bullying" among professors. This time, it is expected to face internal discord due to "doctors' power abuse towards nurses."

If the nurses' claims are proven true, it is anticipated that a social issue similar to the nurse bullying incidents at Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital and Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital will resurface.

In 2020, power abuse by doctors at Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital led to a social issue. Doctors bullied around 80 nurses such as by forcing them to laugh. The university suspended the doctors after requiring them to publicly apologize to the nurses.

Similarly, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital received public criticism for compelling nurses to perform provocative dances at a foundation event.

According to the investigation conducted by Safetimes on June 29th, approximately 20 nurses at Hanyang University Hospital (Chief Lee Hyeong Joong) completed a survey and submitted it to Hanyang University President Lee Ki-Jeong on May 23rd, stating that they were experiencing "workplace bullying by two doctors." 

The nurses claimed that they were being subjected to power abuse, ridicule, and bullying by Professor A and Clinician B, stating that they felt serious mental distress due to intentional disregard and personal insults toward the nurses.

In particular, they appealed that "these doctors use their superior position to spread malicious rumors and create a threatening work environment, causing them to suffer from fear and severe mental stress."

Some nurses are reportedly suffering from panic disorder and are receiving treatment at the university hospital's Department of Psychiatry or are on sick leave.

As the power abuse has been continuing since last year November, dozens of nurses even created a "Bullying Incident Journal" and delivered it to the hospital to expose these actions.

It is said that the letter containing such content was sent to Kim Chong-yang, the Chairman of the Foundation. Suspicions are growing that high-ranking officials of the university and hospital are attempting to cover up the issue.

The emergence of allegations that nurses are being bullied by doctors at Hanyang University Hospital coincided with the intense confrontation between the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Nursing Association over the enactment of the "Nursing Act."

Complaints about the "bully doctors" have been mounting within the hospital, but there are suspicions that the surrounding doctors (professors) have connived or abetted it, as the separation of the victims and perpetrators and a proper investigation have not been carried out.

These claims are spreading among nurses and other university hospitals through the online worker co㎜unity app "Blind" on June 12th. 

The informant, who identified themselves as "Hanyang University Medical Center" claimed in a post titled "I want to expose doctors' power abuse" that "the doctor is using his power to try to transfer a nurse nearing retirement saying that the nurse has cursed at him."

The informant also stated that "the doctors damaged the honor and dignity of the nurse nearing retirement by spreading false information to other nurses and inducing bullying. The nurse has been on sick leave due to panic disorder, but the doctor who is the perpetrator, hasn't even apologized for three months, and the Human Rights Co㎜ission, where the complaint has been filed, has been slow."

However, the post was deleted just two days after it was uploaded, raising suspicions of external pressure from the hospital and the university. 

Nurses have demanded that "the doctors be separated so that they do not work with the nurses due to their severe power abuse." However, the hospital and school have not even investigated the incident for over a month, raising suspicions of a cover-up.

According to the "Prevention of Workplace Harassment Act" enacted in July 2019, anyone who becomes aware of workplace harassment can report it to the employer. Employers must promptly conduct objective investigations into the parties involved.

In particular, employers must take appropriate measures to protect employees who suffer or claim to suffer workplace harassment, such as transferring their workplaces or ordering them a paid leave.

Concerns are growing that the school and the hospital, despite being aware of the allegations of abuse, have not taken any action for over a month, which could lead to "secondary harm."

Some nurses have filed complaints with the ethics co㎜ittee as the university and the hospital consistently responded with lukewarm measures.

Regarding this, an official from the hospital's public relations team stated, "the matter has been reported to the hospital co㎜ittee and will be legally handled in accordance with regulations after the facts are verified."

The official also stated that "the hospital is proceeding with the proper procedures in cases of workplace harassment."

The hospital did not respond to interviews regarding the school's response and the schedule of the co㎜ittee meeting.

Lee Hyeong Joong, the President of Hanyang University Hospital, who took office in March, said in his inauguration speech that he would "eradicate workplace power abuse."

The clinician accused of abuse is currently undergoing an evaluation for appointment as a professor at Hanyang University College of Medicine, drawing attention to his bac㎏round.

[Issue 2 - June 30] Hanyang University Hospital Requests Removal of Article with "Nurses' One-sided Claim" 

On June 30th, Hanyang University Hospital sent an email to Safetimes stating that "We express our deep regret over the speculative article with unverified facts and request that the article be removed or corrected."

In addition, the hospital stated that "The one-sided allegation of a nurse who claims to have been bullied by a doctor has greatly damaged the image of Hanyang University and the hospital," and said, "If the article, which contains unconfirmed defamatory content and photos of the foundation chairman, university president, and hospital chief is not deleted and corrected i㎜ediately, we will respond through all means, including filing a complaint with the Press Arbitration Co㎜ission and taking legal action."

[Editor's Note] Special Investigation Team Activated and Reporting Center Opened

Safetimes has exclusively reported the allegations of "power abuse" by doctors at Hanyang University Hospital towards nurses. However, the university and hospital claimed that it is a "one-sided claim by a nurse" and demanded the deletion of the article and stated that they would take legal action.

In response, Safetimes plans to provide accurate information to readers by disclosing the contents of the "Bullying Incident Journal" and videos obtained exclusively, in order to substantiate the claims.

Furthermore, Safetimes will launch a special investigation team to focus on reporting the "true face of the hospital" such as the promotion of illegal medical practices.

A 24-hour reporting center for excessive treatments and medical accidents at Hanyang University Hospital has been opened. We look forward to your interest.

☞ Safetimes Reporting Center E-mail safebodo@gmail.com