Dispute intensifies over police search of pediatric emergency room

A police search of Ajou University Hospital’s pediatric emergency center in Gyeonggi Province has intensified criticism from medical groups, who say such sweeps can disrupt urgent care. The investigation is tied to the death of a 4-month-old infant on July 15 after the child was transferred to the center. Police say they acted under a court warrant, while doctors say emergency treatment should not be interrupted.

The infant’s parents filed a medical negligence complaint about a month after the child’s death on July 15.

Eight officers from the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency searched the pediatric emergency center, the pediatrics department and other areas of the hospital on Wednesday.

Investigators said they sought a warrant without first asking the hospital to submit records voluntarily because they wanted to secure evidence promptly.

Medical staff had to move to other workstations while officers examined computers used for patient care.

Published Oct 3, 2026 2:49 pm KST

Medical staff are seen at Ajou University Hospital in Gyeonggi Province, March 5, 2024. Korea Times photo by Park Si-mon

A recent police search of Ajou University Hospital’s pediatric emergency center as part of an investigation into an infant’s death has sparked an uproar among medical groups, warning that police sweeps of emergency rooms obstruct vital treatment when seconds count.

Regional medical associations, including one in Daegu, condemned the search Friday, a day after the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Society of Pediatric Emergency Medicine (KSPEM) voiced their objections.

Police maintain that they conducted the search under a court-issued warrant. Doctors counter that searching an emergency facility providing round-the-clock care for critically ill patients disrupts treatment and puts further pressure on essential medical services already under strain.

The investigation stems from the death of a 4-month-old infant at the hospital in Gyeonggi Province on July 15. The child’s parents lodged a complaint alleging medical negligence about a month later.

The infant reportedly developed breathing difficulties and other symptoms during a first outpatient visit to the hospital. The child was transferred to the pediatric emergency center for treatment but could not be saved.

Investigators said they sought a warrant without first asking the hospital to submit records voluntarily, citing the need to secure evidence promptly. Along with electronic medical records, they sought materials they believed the hospital could potentially alter.

Children were receiving treatment during the search. As officers examined computers used for patient care, medical staff had to move to other workstations.

Investigators said they took steps to minimize disruption to care. But Kwak Young-ho, an emergency medicine professor at Seoul National University Hospital and former president of the KSPEM, challenged that explanation. “Emergency centers are continuously occupied, and children receiving treatment require constant observation," Kwak said.

Doctors also warn that searches of emergency facilities following complaints alleging medical negligence could heighten fears of criminal liability, discouraging physicians from entering or remaining in specialties that provide lifesaving care.

The controversy has prompted calls for greater caution when executing search warrants in emergency care settings. Critics say investigators need procedures tailored to emergency departments, operating rooms and intensive care units.

“Patient safety must take precedence whenever emergency treatment is underway, and clear standards are needed to limit compulsory investigative measures to what is strictly necessary,” a KSPEM official said.

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京畿道警方对亚洲大学医院儿科急诊中心的搜查引发了医疗团体的强烈批评，他们认为此类突击搜查会扰乱紧急医疗服务。此次调查与一名4个月大的婴儿于7月15日死亡有关，该婴儿此前被转送至该中心。警方称其行动依据法院搜查令，而医生则表示不应中断紧急治疗。

婴儿的父母在孩子于 7 月 15 日去世约一个月后，提起了医疗事故诉讼。

周三，京畿南部地方警察厅的八名警员搜查了该医院的儿科急诊中心、儿科部门及其他区域。

调查人员表示，他们没有事先要求医院自愿提交记录就申请了搜查令，因为他们想尽快获取证据。

在警员检查用于病人护理的电脑期间，医务人员不得不转移到其他工作站。

发布于2026年10月3日下午2:49（韩国标准时间）

2024年3月5日，京畿道亚洲大学医院，医护人员正在工作。（韩国时报 朴时文摄）

近日，警方对亚洲大学医院儿科急诊中心进行搜查，以调查一名婴儿的死亡事件，此举在医疗团体中引发了强烈抗议。他们警告说，警方对急诊室的突击搜查会阻碍在分秒必争的关键时刻进行的重要治疗。

包括大邱一家医疗协会在内的多个地区医疗协会于周五谴责了此次搜查行动。此前一天，韩国医学会和韩国儿科急诊医学会（KSPEM）也表达了反对意见。

警方坚称，搜查行动是根据法院签发的搜查令进行的。医生则反驳说，搜查一家为危重病人提供24小时救治的急诊机构，会扰乱治疗，并给本已不堪重负的基本医疗服务带来更大压力。

此次调查源于7月15日京畿道一家医院一名4个月大的婴儿死亡事件。大约一个月后，孩子的父母提出投诉，指控医院存在医疗过失。

据报道，这名婴儿在首次门诊就诊时出现呼吸困难及其他症状。随后，婴儿被转送至儿科急诊中心接受治疗，但最终抢救无效身亡。

调查人员表示，他们并未事先要求医院自愿提交记录，而是直接申请了搜查令，理由是需要尽快获取证据。除了电子病历外，他们还寻求获取他们认为医院可能篡改的材料。

搜查期间，孩子们正在接受治疗。由于警员正在检查用于病人护理的电脑，医务人员不得不转移到其他工作站。

调查人员称他们已采取措施尽量减少对医疗服务的干扰。但首尔大学医院急诊医学教授、韩国急诊医学会前会长郭永浩对这一解释提出质疑。“急诊中心一直处于繁忙状态，接受治疗的儿童需要持续观察，”郭教授说。

医生们还警告说，在接到医疗过失投诉后对急诊设施进行搜查，可能会加剧人们对刑事责任的担忧，从而阻碍医生进入或继续从事提供救生护理的专科领域。

这场争议引发了人们呼吁在急诊医疗机构执行搜查令时更加谨慎。批评人士指出，调查人员需要制定针对急诊科、手术室和重症监护室的专属程序。

“在进行紧急治疗时，患者安全必须放在首位，需要制定明确的标准，将强制性调查措施限制在绝对必要的范围内，”KSPEM 的一位官员表示。

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