의사 면허 관리의 현황과 이에 대한 자율규제 = Current Status of Medical License Management and Self-Regulation

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

A doctor is a person who can obtain a license to perform medical acts recognized by the state through the Medical Service Act, by completing a certain educational course and passing the National Medical Licensing Examination. The purpose of providing medical services is to maintain the health of the public and prevent disease, and this is fulfilling one's duty to society as a professional. Recently, unexpected medical accidents have occurred due to the expansion of patients' rights and increased expectations regarding medical care.As a result, the criminal and civil liability of medical professionals is being strengthened, which in turn is undermining the foundation of essential and community medical care. The Korean Medical Association, a professional organization, still lacks autonomous disciplinary authority over doctors involved in unethical medical practices.
Professional organizations emphasize professionalism, and in Korea, professional groups such as lawyers and certified public accountants are subject to autonomous regulation based on legal grounds. Although there are differences between countries, in the Unite Kingdom and the the United State, professional medical organizations carry out roles such as medical license registration, recertification, and revocation based on collective ethical standards. As professionals, physicians have obtained a medical license from the state to treat patients through specific education, training, and continuing education courses. The license itself is not merely a qualification for holding a job, but a public authority based on social trust from the public receiving medical services and the government; this authority is difficult to properly exercise without a foundation of self-regulation by the professional group. Self-regulation is a core value of the profession, grounded in the trust of the public and the government, and requires both social responsibility and professional expertise. By securing professional autonomy and public trust through autonomous remedies, we must actively respond to future changes in the medical environment to enhance public satisfaction with medical services. Furthermore, rather than relying on post-event administrative, criminal, or civil sanctions, proactive measures regarding physician qualifications are necessary to enhance patient safety.