The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said on the 19th that it imposed fines of 10 million won and 6 million won, respectively, on the administrative director of psychiatric hospital A and a former administrative manager who resigned, for refusing an ex officio investigation into the illegal confinement and inhumane treatment of patients with developmental disabilities. Since the launch of the National Human Rights Commission, these are the largest fines levied on a psychiatric medical institution.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) decided to conduct an ex officio investigation into hospital A based on the findings of the "2024 visit survey on isolation and restraint at psychiatric medical institutions." It then began on-site inspections in January last year.
However, the administrative director of hospital A and the then administrative manager refused to allow viewing of closed-circuit (CC)TV footage and interviews with patients in closed wards, citing the Medical Service Act and the Personal Information Protection Act. They also rejected two requests for document submission from May to June last year.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) determined that the hospital obstructed the investigation by refusing interviews with patients, which were essential to determine whether it was confining patients with double locks and engaging in inhumane treatment. It also viewed the failure to submit materials processed with pseudonyms or anonymously as obstruction.
Under Article 63, Paragraph 1 of the National Human Rights Commission Act, a fine of up to 10 million won may be imposed for refusing a visit survey without justifiable reason or for failing to comply with requests to submit materials or documents.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) conducted two additional on-site inspections of hospital A starting last month. An NHRC official said, "We are investigating whether there were human rights violations related to the illegal confinement and inhumane treatment of patients with developmental disabilities."