Court rejects hospital's bid to discharge partially paralyzed patient

SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court on Friday dismissed a leading university hospital's request to discharge a partially paralyzed patient who has refused to pay medical bills and argues her paralysis was caused by a failed surgery.

The 60-year-old woman, whose name was withheld, visited Severance Hospital in
western Seoul in April 2006 complaining of a tremor in her left hand and
underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. Several days later, she was forced to
undergo another brain surgery due to cerebral hemorrhage and the left side of her
body has since become paralyzed.
The patient's family has refused to pay all medical bills and filed a damages
suit against the hospital, which is affiliated with the prestigious Yonsei
University, claiming that her physical paralysis was caused by malpractice.
In a counter move, the hospital launched a lawsuit asking the court to discharge
her from her hospital room, arguing that she is occupying it illegally and is
physically stable enough to be treated at a smaller medical institution.
"Although the patient is stable enough to move to other smaller hospitals, she is
under the medical treatment not only to improve her condition but also to prevent
the risk of a relapse," the Seoul Central District Court said in a verdict.
"As she is now in litigation with the hospital, the court cannot order her to
move out of the hospital just because she did not pay for the treatment."
brk@yna.co.kr
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