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| The photo shows the slum of the deceased in the Bonifacio Grand Auditorium of the Catholic Church of Incheon, Dong-gu, Incheon (provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) 2020.4.26/News 1 |
The National Human Rights Commission judged that the fact that the late Father Kim Byeong-sang, the godfather of the democracy movement, failed to be notified of gastric cancer in his life, a violation of his right to self-determination.
The Human Rights Commission announced on the 23rd that it recommended that the head of the hospital conduct human rights education for the attending physician in connection with the complaint that Father Kim had not been diagnosed with gastric cancer in December of last year and that he had not even had surgery.
Father Kim, who received a private product in 1969, is evaluated as a clergyman who devoted himself to the democratization movement, such as being arrested for leading a prayer meeting demanding the abolition of the Yushin Constitution in 1977. Father Kim entered a nursing facility operated by the parish of Incheon in 2018 and was treated at a general hospital operated by the parish, but died on April 25 last year.
In a survey by the NHRCK, the attending physician said, “When Fr. Kim was notified of gastric cancer, he did not inform him of the disease information and non-operation decision because he feared that his condition would worsen due to stress, anxiety, and depression.” It was,” he explained.
However, the NHRCK pointed out, “It is difficult to say that Father Kim’s ability to make decisions about his own life at the time was not significantly inferior, and that the diagnosis of gastric cancer was highly likely to cause fatal health problems.”
“Even so, the attending physician did not inform Father Kim of the diagnosis and consulted only with the guardians (diocese officials),” he emphasized.
In addition, complaints were filed that “the doctor did not attempt active treatment” or “the nursing facility restricted Father Kim and his family from visiting”, but the NHRCK dismissed it because of insufficient evidence.
In addition, the NHRCK dismissed the complaint that “the nursing facility kept Father Kim’s bankbook or resident registration card and declared itself as a guardian and did not inform the family of the decision to leave the hospital.” .
However, the diocese of Incheon said in the decision, “The priest is a member of the parish, and the parish is responsible for all the responsibility, and Father Kim told me not to put anything on it (refusal of life-sustaining treatment). It was wrong for the diocesan to decide without receiving consent in writing.”
He said, “I reflect on the wrong behavior that I thought was a practice,” and said, “I plan to have the priests in the parish write a letter of intent for refusing life-sustaining treatment and receive a delegation of guardians from the family.