Background: Although the rates of illegal cosmetic procedures performed by beauticians are increasing, there is a dearth of relevant information in the literature regarding these procedures. Objective: This study was aimed to investigate illegal cosmetic procedures that were performed by beauticians with the help of judicial precedents. Methods: The Supreme Court of South Korea’s Written Judgement Management System was searched for judicial precedents regarding illegal cosmetic procedures performed by beauticians. This system included cases that were sentenced in the lower courts, the appellate courts, and the supreme court from the year 1997 to 2019. Results: Twenty-three litigation cases related to these illegal cosmetic procedures were selected. There were 21 criminal cases and two civil cases. Common illegal procedures included tattooing (n=11), use of laser and intense pulsed light device (n=6), administration of intradermal injection (n=3), and application of topical agents (n=2). Two civil cases reported facial deformity and accidental macular damage caused by illegal use of lasers by the beauticians. Conclusion In this study, illegal cosmetic procedures performed by beauticians were identified. Continuous monitoring of these illegal procedures is necessary as they can cause adverse effects in patients.

Background: Although the rates of illegal cosmetic procedures performed by beauticians are increasing, there is a dearth of relevant information in the literature regarding these procedures. Objective: This study was aimed to investigate illegal cosmetic procedures that were performed by beauticians with the help of judicial precedents. Methods: The Supreme Court of South Korea’s Written Judgement Management System was searched for judicial precedents regarding illegal cosmetic procedures performed by beauticians. This system included cases that were sentenced in the lower courts, the appellate courts, and the supreme court from the year 1997 to 2019. Results: Twenty-three litigation cases related to these illegal cosmetic procedures were selected. There were 21 criminal cases and two civil cases. Common illegal procedures included tattooing (n=11), use of laser and intense pulsed light device (n=6), administration of intradermal injection (n=3), and application of topical agents (n=2). Two civil cases reported facial deformity and accidental macular damage caused by illegal use of lasers by the beauticians. Conclusion In this study, illegal cosmetic procedures performed by beauticians were identified. Continuous monitoring of these illegal procedures is necessary as they can cause adverse effects in patients.

Background: Due to its abuse potential, propofol has been classified as a controlled substance since February 2011 in South Korea. Healthcare workers are exposed to propofol abuse considering their easy access to this substance in hospitals. Therefore, we aimed to investigate propofol abuse among healthcare workers through the database of the Supreme Court in South Korea. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed adjudicated criminal cases related to propofol abuse among healthcare workers from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2020, using the database of the Supreme Court of South Korea’s judgments. We collected the clinical characteristics and punishment-related information of healthcare workers who abused propofol. Results: Of the 194 cases collected using the search term ‘propofol,’ 20 were included in the final analysis. The most common healthcare workers who abused propofol were nursing aides (n = 15). Among them, 40% (n = 8) of the defendants had previously been punished for substance abuse, and 35% (n = 7) had a history of psychological disease. Of the defendants, 65% (n = 13) self-administered propofol more than twice, and the median number of self-administrations was three. Except for two, the defendants were sentenced to imprisonment, including suspended sentences, and the median values of their duration of prison and probation were 9 months and 24 months. Conclusions Despite propofol being strongly regulated as a controlled substance in South Korea, its abuse among healthcare workers remains. Healthcare workers should be vigilant against its abuse among themselevs.

Background: Medical malpractice during endotracheal intubation can result in catastrophic complications. However, there are no reports on these severe complications in South Korea. We aimed to investigate the severe complications associated with endotracheal intubation occurring in South Korea, via medicolegal analysis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the closed judicial precedents regarding complications related to endotracheal intubation lodged between January 1994 and June 2020, using the database of the Supreme Court of Korea. We collected clinical and judicial characteristics from the judgments and analyzed the medical malpractices related to endotracheal intubation. Results: Of 220 potential cases, 63 were included in the final analysis. The most common event location was the operating room (n = 20, 31.7%). All but 3 cases were associated with significant permanent or more severe injury, including 31 deaths. The most common problems were failed or delayed intubation (n = 56, 88.9%). Supraglottic airway device was used in 5.2% (n = 3) cases of delayed or failed intubation. Fifty-one (81%) cases were ruled in favor of the plaintiff in the claims for damages, with a median payment of Korean Won 133,897,845 (38,000,000, 308,538,274). The most common malpractice recognized by the court was that of not attempting an alternative airway technique (n = 32, 50.8%), followed by violation of the duty of explanation (n = 10, 15.9%). Conclusion Our results could increase physicians’ awareness of the major complications related to endotracheal intubation and help ensure patient safety.

BACKGROUND: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) involves severe pain and it is difficult to identify the exact cause or pathogenesis. Therefore, there are controversies regarding legal issues related to the establishment of damage in medical malpractice lawsuits involving CRPS. This study aimed to analyze malpractice lawsuits involving CRPS, which occurred after the disputed medical treatment, to provide information on the courts' opinion and characteristics of the cases. METHODS: This study analyzed 23 lawsuit judgments involving CRPS that were sentenced from 2005 to 2015. RESULTS: A total of 12 of the 23 cases were partially ruled in favor of the plaintiff. The average amount (KRW) claimed was 470,638,385 ± 860,634,092 (21,000,000 to 4,020,000,000), and that awarded was 72,906,843 ± 53,389,367 (15,000,000 to 181,080,803). Sixteen of the 23 cases had CRPS type I. In 11 of 23 cases, the site of the pain was located in the lower limb and in 14 cases there was no presence of trauma or event prior to medical treatment. CONCLUSION: Nerve injury was the most frequent reason for taking responsibility in compensating damage in malpractice cases involving CRPS. Physicians should consider various possibilities of such complications in medical practices. It is important to identify and improve areas which need to be improved for patient safety through analyzing the lawsuit judgment cases.
Awards and Prizes ; Complex Regional Pain Syndromes ; Judgment ; Jurisprudence ; Lower Extremity ; Malpractice ; Patient Safety