전공의•전임의 업무개시명령 전국으로 확대…'약 80명 복귀'<br /><br />Doctors here in South Korea and the government appear to be only drifting further apart.<br />On the third day of a nationwide doctors' strike, authorities are vowing legal action against those who defy back-to-work orders; doctors are discussing launching an indenifinite strike.<br />Kim Do-yeon has been following this story.<br />"Doctors don't need any special reason or purpose to come back to work. The only reason they need is to save lives."<br />On top of the return-to-work order imposed in the capital area, the government has expanded the order to nationwide.<br />And reversing a decision made the day before, the government also filed a complaint with the police regarding the ten doctors who refused the order.<br />The Korean Medical Association warned previously that taking this step would result in a tougher response.<br />"At the protest committee's meeting at 6 PM tonight, we will discuss whether to go on a third, indefinite strike."<br />He added he will also file a complaint for an abuse of authority by the government and bring the legislation that back the government's action to the constitutional court.<br />Under the current legislation, doctors who violated the order could face up to three years in prison or over 25-thousand U.S. dollars in fines<br />They could also have their medical license suspended... or even canceled.<br />The government added that after their field investigation, they found around 80 doctors returned to work due to the order.<br />According to the health ministry, around 68% of interns and residents joined the strike, and while some have returned to work, many of them turned off all means of communication when the order was imposed in the capital.<br />Medical interns and residents went on strike on August 21st over the government's health reform plans, and were joined by doctors nationwide from Wednesday to Friday.<br />While not many local clinics joined the strike, major hospitals affected by it had to cancel surgeries.<br />For example, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital reduced surgeries by half and admitted 30 percent fewer new patients.<br />Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.<br />
