Nursing Act Promulgated Amid Controversy

The Nursing Act was promulgated on the 20th, sparking a heated debate between the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Nurses Association. Park Yong-eon, Vice President of the Korean Medical Association, publicly criticized the Korean Nurses Association’s press release welcoming the promulgation of the Nursing Act.

Park Yong-eon expressed his disapproval, stating that the Korean Nurses Association should not have pursued the Nursing Act if they were not willing to meet the necessary standards. He further emphasized that the association’s actions were presumptuous and misguided.

The Nursing Act aims to clarify the legal status and authority of nurses, as well as establish measures to improve their working environment. However, the Korean Medical Association has opposed the act, arguing that it encourages illegal medical practices by nurses and allows unlicensed medical practices.

In contrast, the Korean Nurses Association has welcomed the law, stating that it provides a foundation for safe nursing care and protects fairness and common sense in healthcare. The association also believes that the Nursing Act will help realize the universal right to health and the public value of social care.

The promulgation of the Nursing Act marks a significant shift in the perception of nurses’ roles in the healthcare system. Previously, nurses were seen as merely assisting doctors, but the new law recognizes their autonomy and importance in providing quality care.