A nurse in her 20s and the hospital where she works are under police investigation after she sent an acquaintance a photo that included a patient's medical records. The patient information was captured while she was photographing herself at work.
Busan Seobu Police Station said on the 8th that it is investigating the woman, identified only as A, and her hospital on suspicion of violating the Medical Service Act. The public health center in Busan's Seo District filed the complaint with police in the middle of last month.
According to police, A was taking photos of herself with her mobile phone at the hospital when a patient's medical records appeared in one of the images. She then sent the photo to an acquaintance via KakaoTalk, the investigation found.
The Seo District health center launched a fact-finding review last month after receiving a complaint. It later filed the case with police, concluding that further checks were needed to determine whether any additional patient information had been leaked.
Under the current Medical Service Act, medical personnel and hospital employees are barred from disclosing or divulging patient information they learn in the course of their work.
Police are examining whether A's actions constitute the disclosure of patient information under the law. They are also investigating the hospital under a provision that holds employers liable alongside individual offenders.
"Under the current law, the health center filed a complaint against the hospital as well, in line with the joint liability provision," a police official said. "The investigation is ongoing, so it is difficult to disclose specifics."
