64시간 근무에 24시간 대기..마지막 전공의가 남긴 말 / SBS 8뉴스

Anchor We previously reported the tragic news that a newborn baby passed away because the patient could not receive timely treatment, following the resignation of a university hospital professor in the Jeonbuk region who had been single-handedly managing the neonatal intensive care unit. Reporter Han Seong-hee investigated the reality of night shifts to find out why doctors are leaving neonatal intensive care units one by one. Reporter It is 5:50 PM, just before the start of the night shift. Professor Lee Byeong-guk, who treats critically ill newborns in the Sejong and Chungbuk regions, has already been on duty for 40 hours since dawn the previous day. [Lee Byeong-guk / Professor, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital: There was a baby who was in poor condition in the early hours of Sunday transitioning into Monday, so I came to work at 2 AM and am working until 6 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday.] This amounts to working 64 consecutive hours. Tonight, too, Professor Lee must take sole responsibility for the intensive care unit. The 20 beds are already full, mostly for premature babies born before 37 weeks. The so-called "on-call" status, with staff on standby 24 hours a day, is maintained 365 days a year. The presence of a neonatologist is absolutely essential in saving a baby's life, such as in the procedure of inserting a ductus arteriosus for a baby with low blood pressure. [Lee Byung-guk / Professor, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital: The radial artery (in the baby's wrist) is very small. We have no choice but to feel the pulse directly to catch it. It is not a visible part.] It is past midnight. The heart of the baby, nicknamed "Teunteuni" (meaning "strong baby"), weighing less than 600g, is checked frequently. [Lee Byung-guk / Professor, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital: This is a very difficult baby, so honestly, my heart hopes he survives.] Dinner, missed due to the late hour, is substituted with convenience store sandwiches and milk in the research lab right next to the intensive care unit. He tries to catch a quick nap past 1 AM, but wakes up again after just an hour to check on the baby's condition. Nationwide, there are only 65 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and a mere 199 neonatologists. Even among them, 65% are located in the Seoul metropolitan area. With the situation becoming critical—as seen recently at Jeonbuk National University Hospital—where the operation of an ICU is jeopardized by the absence of even a single specialist, working continuous shifts of over 24 hours has become the norm for neonatologists. [Lee Byung-guk / Professor, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital: I am holding on despite the strain of a herniated disc in my neck. If something were to happen to me tomorrow, this unit would be left vacant.] Treatment is complex with meager compensation, and because doctors face legal liability if a baby goes bad despite the grueling workload, there have been no applicants for the residency position to succeed Professor Lee for the past seven years. Professor Lee still remembers the words left behind by the last resident he worked with. [Lee Byung-guk / Professor, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital: (The resident said) 'I think it is a truly wonderful thing to do. But I, and my family, cannot do that'… .] Professor Lee, who continued his rounds even after dawn, hurriedly left for a medical school lecture. There are still 10 more hours left until he gets off work. (Video Reporting: Lee Byung-ju, Video Editing: Kim Jong-tae) #Neonatal #IntensiveCare #Resident Copyright Ⓒ SBS. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use for AI learning are prohibited.