"Of all days, her surgery took place on the day the prosecution was abolished" ... 27-month-old daughter suffers cardiac arrest under anesthesia; mother's plea [What do you think?]

[Financial News] A 27-month-old girl undergoing surgery for entropion, in which the eyelashes turn inward and scratch the eye, at an ophthalmology hospital in Ulsan suffered cardiac arrest during anesthesia and was left brain-dead. The child's parents have raised suspicions of medical negligence and complained that the police investigation has also been hampered by the fallout from an overhaul of the investigative system on the day of the incident, sparking controversy.

On the 5th, a post titled "I am the mother of a 27-month-old daughter living in Ulsan" appeared on Threads. The author, identified as A, wrote, "My 27-month-old daughter, who entered the operating room on the 2nd, has lost consciousness in the pediatric intensive care unit of a university hospital in Busan and cannot even breathe spontaneously."
According to A, the child weighed 9.85 kg on the day of the surgery. A claimed, "I was told that children weighing less than 10 kg receive sedation anesthesia, while those weighing more than 10 kg receive general anesthesia. Since I was told general anesthesia would be used that day, I asked again, \"Is this possible even though she weighs less than 10 kg?\" and was told there would be no problem." A added, "I never even met the surgeon or anesthesiologist."
A continued, "The nursing records state that she entered the operating room at 11:05, medication was administered on an anesthesia department order at 11:15, her oxygen saturation dropped and cyanosis developed at 11:21, CPR was started when no heartbeat could be detected, and the 119 emergency number was called at 11:26."
A explained, "When I saw my child's face again, it was clean, without any surgical guide markings," adding, "It seemed that the surgeon had not even arrived in the operating room when the incident occurred, apart from the anesthesiologist." The child was taken to a nearby hospital, where her heartbeat was restored. However, A said a university hospital in Busan told her that the child could be in a vegetative state or brain-dead because she could not breathe spontaneously and showed no pupil response.

The investigation was the issue that caused A the most frustration in her post. The 2nd, when the child underwent surgery, was the day the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea (SPO) closed its doors after 78 years and the Public Prosecution Office and Serious Crime Investigation Agency were launched.
A claimed, "The 119 emergency number contacted the 112 Police Emergency Number, and police came to the hospital. But when I later spoke with a detective, I was told that because my child had not died, the case could not be formally registered unless I filed a complaint." A added, "The only thing the police confirmed was that there was no CCTV in the operating room. Even though I had clearly consented to filming on the consent form, nothing had been recorded."
A continued, "When I asked whether the doctor's charts or the equipment used in the surgery should be seized, I was told, \"A warrant is needed, but we do not know what should be seized, and since the prosecution has been abolished, it is unclear how to request a warrant.\""
A said, "All the lawyers I spoke with told me that, because my child's surgery happened to fall on the day the prosecution was abolished, the entire criminal justice system would likely be paralyzed for the time being." She added, "Even though I filed a complaint, the investigation has not even begun."
A also said that hospital officials summoned her to Ulsan and told her, "It seems the anesthesiologist made a mistake." A wrote, "I cannot see any evidence showing whether it was really a mistake by the anesthesiologist or whether the hospital is simply trying to shift the blame. I do not want to blame anyone. I want to know the truth through evidence, not through people's words."

After hearing the story, netizens raised concerns about a gap in the investigation. Their reactions included, "Who was the prosecution abolished for?" "What good will this do if the criminal justice system is paralyzed? I hope the truth is uncovered so she is not wronged," and "It must be hard enough for the mother to keep herself together, and now she has to fight this difficult battle too."
Some also criticized the decision to use general anesthesia on a child weighing less than 10 kg. One netizen who said they were raising a 30-month-old child in Ulsan wrote, "It is heartbreaking that a baby weighing less than 10 kg was given general anesthesia."
Others said it was difficult to make a judgment based on weight alone. Comments included, "Newborns also undergo surgery under general anesthesia, so it does not seem to be a matter of weight. It could have been an individual sensitivity to the anesthetic or a mistake during the anesthesia process," and, "My child underwent surgery under general anesthesia at 4 kg when they were 100 days old. It was at a university hospital, though."
Other comments that drew attention included a comforting message saying, "My son had the same surgery at age six. You know surgery is the only answer, don't you? Don't blame yourself," as well as advice from a netizen who identified themselves as a lawyer: "It would be best to pursue civil litigation, criminal proceedings, and media tip-offs simultaneously."
[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter