[26.04.16] Court Orders Hospitals to Pay in 4-Year-Old ER Shuffle Death Case

Court Orders Hospitals to Pay Damages in “ER Shuffle” Death of 4-Year-Old…70% Liability Recognized

📍 Refusal of emergency care and inadequate treatment both acknowledged as negligence…systemic flaws in emergency care highlighted

A court has ruled that hospitals must compensate the family of a four-year-old child who died after being repeatedly transferred between hospitals without proper emergency treatment, a situation often referred to as an “ER shuffle.” The ruling has once again brought attention to structural problems in the emergency medical system and hospital accountability.

🔹 Court recognizes hospital negligence…orders 400 million won compensation

The Busan District Court Western Branch ruled that the hospitals involved share responsibility in the lawsuit filed by the bereaved family of the late Kim Dong-hee. The court ordered the defendants to pay 70% of the claimed damages, amounting to 400 million won.

The court determined that both the refusal to treat an emergency patient and the lack of appropriate medical care contributed to the fatal outcome.

🔹 Bleeding after tonsil surgery…condition worsens

Kim Dong-hee underwent a tonsillectomy at Hospital A in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, in October 2019 and later showed signs of bleeding during recovery. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to Hospital B in Busan.

However, even after arriving at Hospital B’s emergency room, he did not receive immediate treatment and was instead handed over again to a 119 ambulance.

🔹 Transferred without treatment…medical records not properly delivered

The court pointed out serious issues in Hospital B’s response. Despite the patient’s deteriorating condition, the emergency room doctor transferred him to paramedics without providing proper treatment and failed to deliver necessary medical records.

This was considered a violation of basic procedures required when transferring emergency patients.

🔹 “Go to another hospital”…Hospital A effectively refuses treatment

While being transported in an unconscious state, Kim was taken to the nearest Hospital A, where he had undergone surgery. However, Hospital A requested that he be taken elsewhere, citing an ongoing resuscitation case.

Investigations later revealed that there were no patients in critical condition that would justify refusing treatment, leading the court to conclude that the refusal lacked legitimate grounds.

🔹 Additional 20 km transfer…loss of critical time

The ambulance was ultimately forced to travel about 20 kilometers to another hospital, causing further delays in treatment. Kim never regained consciousness and died in March 2020 after receiving life-sustaining care.

The court found that this series of delays significantly reduced the patient’s chances of survival.

🔹 Criminal case resulted in fines…civil ruling highlights responsibility

In a separate criminal trial, Hospital A and its medical staff were fined for violating emergency medical laws, while doctors at Hospital B were fined for violations of medical law. However, charges of negligent homicide were not upheld.

The civil ruling is seen as significant because it formally recognizes negligence despite the absence of criminal liability for causing death.

🔹 Family calls for change…“hope no one suffers again”

Kim’s mother stated that the civil ruling carries meaning because negligence was recognized despite the earlier acquittal in the criminal case. She also expressed hope that no other families would suffer similar tragedies.

Patient advocacy groups emphasized the need for institutional reforms to prevent refusal of emergency care and to strengthen accountability.

🔹 Repeated “ER shuffle” cases…need for systemic reform

The case highlights broader structural issues in the emergency medical system beyond individual negligence. In particular, confusion in patient transfers and avoidance of responsibility between hospitals can directly affect patient survival.

Experts stress the need to strengthen obligations to accept emergency patients and to improve information-sharing systems between hospitals.

One-line summary : A court recognized hospital negligence in the death of a 4-year-old following repeated ER transfers and ordered 400 million won in compensation.