Nursing Act vetoed by Yoon proposed again by PPP lawmaker

Members of the Korea Nursing Association shout slogans in front of the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, May 30, 2023, calling for the fulfillment of promises to enact a nursing bill. By Taehyung Cho

The Nursing Act, which was vetoed by President Yoon Suk-yeol, has been proposed again. Representative Choi Yeon-sook of the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) made the proposal and opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the Reform Party, and the Liberty Unification Party also participated in the proposal. The Grain Management Act, which had been blocked by the veto, was also proposed again on April 18, indicating that the "rejection of President Yoon's veto" is in full swing after the general election.

Choi said in a phone interview on the 21st, "I re-proposed the Nursing Act with the hope that it would be discussed in the 21st National Assembly." According to the National Assembly's bill information system, Choi proposed the law on the 19th, which aims to regulate nurses' qualifications and scope of work. The bill was jointly proposed by five lawmakers from the ruling party and six from opposition parties, including the DPK, the Reform Party, and the Liberty Unification Party.

The proposed nursing law has been supplemented with provisions to dispel concerns from doctors' organizations regarding the "excessive conflict between related agencies" that President Yoon cited as the reason for his veto. Doctors' groups have argued that passage of the nursing law would lead to unlicensed practice and prescriptions by nurses. In response to this, the bill further clarified the duties of nurses from providing medical assistance under the guidance of a doctor to performing tasks necessary for medical treatment, such as administering injections under the guidance or prescription of a doctor. The scope and limits of the nurse's duties were also set by presidential decree, allowing for greater flexibility. . Other than that, most of the details of the bill are similar to the one that was vetoed.

Choi's re-proposal of the nursing law may have been influenced by the fact that she checked public sentiment through the general election. The perception of the result of the general election is likely to lead to active cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties.

The government and the ruling party, which confirmed the public sentiment through the general election, are also likely to cooperate on less controversial issues, such as the Nursing Act. On March 10, the presidential office announced that it would reorganize related laws to legislate the practice of PA nurses and open the possibility of re-proposal of the Nursing Act.

The variable is until when the conflict between the medical circles and the government will continue. As they enter the dialogue phase, there is a possibility that the government will avoid actions that can stimulate doctors.

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.