Daegu launches South Korea’s first legal support for emergency medical staff

Daegu Metropolitan City has announced the launch of the ‘Daegu Responsible Emergency Medical Legal Support Project,’ the first initiative of its kind in South Korea. The program aims to reduce the legal burdens faced by medical professionals when treating severe emergency patients, which has recently led to hesitation in accepting critical cases due to fears of criminal liability.

By providing legal assistance, the city hopes to prevent ‘emergency room wandering,’ where patients are unable to find timely care. The support targets medical staff in emergency and supporting departments at six regional and local emergency medical centers within the city.

A specialized legal support group composed of medical lawyers will provide services including case consultation, analysis of complaints, strategic advice, and accompaniment during police investigations. Financial support includes up to 1 million won per consultation (up to three times) and up to 3 million won per police investigation accompaniment (up to two times). However, support is excluded in cases of proven gross negligence or if the staff receives duplicate support from the central government or their own medical institution.