(LEAD) Medical professors threaten collective action in event of damage to trainee doctors, students

SEOUL, Medical professors across the nation will take collective action if any damage occurs to trainee doctors and medical students protesting the government's decision to significantly increase the medical school enrollment quota, the association of medical school faculties said Tuesday. The Medical Professors Association of Korea said it reached the resolution the previous day, as the government is taking steps to suspend the medical licenses of thousands of trainee doctors participating in a walkout to protest the quota hike. Thirty-three out of the country's 40 medical schools are members of the association. More than 90 percent of the country's 13,000 intern and resident doctors have stayed off the job at general hospitals nationwide for three weeks in protest against the government's plan to increase medical schools enrollments by 2,000 spots starting next year. As of Monday, 5,451 medical school students nationwide had filed for leaves of absence in collective action against the quota increase pl an, while students at six medical schools were boycotting classes, raising concerns that they could face grade retention en masse. "If any damage is inflicted on trainee doctors and students, we will sternly hold the government accountable for the current situation and take collective action to resolve the problem," the association said in a statement. The group warned that more medical professors may submit resignations in protest, potentially leading to the collapse of health care services and medical education. To resolve the current situation, the government should come to unconditional dialogue with the medical sector, the association urged. "If trainee doctors and medical students sustain serious damage and the medical education scene faces a collapse, we would no longer have any sense of duty as medical professors," it said. The statement came as tensions are escalating between the government and medical professors, with the government remaining determined to forge ahead with the quota hike plan d espite stiff protest from trainee doctors and medical students. The previous day, medical school professors at Seoul National University resolved to submit resignations en masse next week if no "reasonable breakthrough" is sought by the government. The medical professors' council at the Catholic University of Korea also said in a statement Tuesday that professors would have no other choice but to reduce medical services to outpatients and surgeries should the current situation continue. In a separate statement, the medical faculty council at Dankook University urged the government to immediately stop "unconstitutional and violent" acts toward trainee doctors and students. Professors warned that they will take "action" without hesitation if any unjust harm occurs to trainee doctors and students affiliated with the school. Emergency committees of 16 medical schools countrywide were also expected to gather online later in the day to discuss responses to the situation, presumably including the possibility of collective action. Source: Yonhap News Agency