A caregiver was convicted for inserting a wet wipe into the anus of a severely disabled patient who was unable to move or express themselves.
On the 26th, Director General Jang Byung-jun of the Busan District Court's Criminal Division 4 announced that caregiver A was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a 2-year probation on charges of violating the Elderly Welfare Act and the Disabled Welfare Act. A will be restricted from employment in elderly and disabled-related institutions for two years.
According to the crime facts recognized by the court, A inserted several folded wet wipes into the anus of an elderly severely disabled patient who was unable to move or express themselves while providing 24-hour nursing care at a hospital in Busan on about Dec. 18, 2023. A was prosecuted for assaulting the victim. A stated in court that the action was taken because the victim frequently had bowel movements, making cleanup cumbersome.
The court stated, "In the context of assault, the term refers to the illegal use of physical force that causes physical or mental pain to another person," noting that "the defendant's actions are recognized as assault because they could cause the victim physical, physiological, or mental distress or discomfort as an illegal act."