Breast and Endocrine Surgery Faculty / Medical Staff >

The Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery at the Samsung Medical Center is actively introducing up-to-date medical knowledge to maximize treatment effects based on standardized treatment protocols, and at the same time is providing patient-centered medical care to increase the quality of life and patient treatment satisfaction.

Department of Breast Surgery

Major activities

1. Department of Breast Surgery

  • Breast cancer screening : We provide screening for breast cancer in affiliation with the national health screening program or for breast nodules and calcifications found in screen ing performed at primary hospitals.
  • Benign breast diseases : We provide accurate diagnosis for symptoms related to the breast and prevent unnecessary treatment. We perform tumor excision using the mammo tome to minimize scars and for safe excision considering aesthetic results, if necessary.
  • Breast cancer :
    • ① To increase the safe performing of breast conserving surgery, we accurately find out whether the tumor is multi-focal or if the range of the tumor is wide using various tests, and perform breast- conserving surgery whenever possible.
    • ② To prevent complications such as lymphedema or paresthesia from axillary lymph node dissection,we performed the first sentinel lymph node biopsy in 2001, and we perform sentinel lymph node biopsies in all cases where axillary lymph node metastasis is not suspected.
    • ③ In most of the surgery for breast cancer, we perform oncoplastic surgery not only for oncologic safety but also for aesthetic satisfaction, and when radical excision is per formed we actively perform concomitant breast reconstructions.
    • ④ For the quality of life of younger breast cancer patients under the age of 40, which shows a high rate in Korea, we have opened a Young Breast Cancer Clinic to provide rapid pre-operative testing and simultaneous medical care from multiple fields to improve quality of life after treatment.
    • ⑤ For the quality of life of breast cancer patients after complete cure, we run a lifetime health clinic.
    • ⑥ We also actively participate in domestic and international clinical research to provide the latest treatments for patients.

Department of Thyroid-Endocrine Surgery

This is a sub-division of the Department of General Surgery where we diagnose and treat dysfunctions, benign tumors, and malignant tumors of hormone-secreting organs, such as the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal gland.

Major activities

  • Surgical treatment of thyroid cancer
  • Surgical excision for hyperthyroidism
  • Minimal incision surgery for benign tumors of the thyroid
  • Thyroid endoscopic robotic surgery: thyroidectomy is performed through an incision in the axilla, with no incision in the neck region
  • Surgery for hyperparathyroidism and benign tumors of the parathyroid
  • Laparoscopic surgery for functional tumors (Cushing’s syndrome, hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma) and other tumors of the adrenal gland
  • Surgical excision of lymphatic metastases in the neck, axillary, and inguinal regions
Departments List
CLOSE

Patients' Rights and Responsibilities

Patients' Rights

1. Right to receive medical care

Patients have the right to receive proper care in a safe setting without discrimination nor should their right to care be violated regardless of their gender, age, religion, social status, nationality, language, race, or physical/mental/financial status. Medical teams shall not refuse to provide care without justifiable reason.

2. Right to be informed and to make an autonomous decision

Patients have the right to obtain full and complete information from their medical team, to ask questions, and to determine their agreement or refusal concerning: diagnosis, treatment (purpose, plans and methods), outcomes of care (including unanticipated outcomes), discharge plan, participation in medical research studies, organ transplantation/donation, etc. Within ethical boundaries, patients may discontinue or refuse treatment, request that the medical team explain and suggest alternative treatments, and reserve the right to make their own decisions.

3. Right to confidentiality

Patients' rights to confidentiality regarding their physical/health status and privacy will not be violated. Patients can expect that all medical records/reports and their personal privacy will be kept confidential unless the patient has given consent or disclosure is permitted by law. To ensure their privacy, patients may be informed that Individuals not directly involved in their care may not be present and that the number of guardians accompanying patients to consultation rooms may be limited.

4. Right to request consultation and mediation

In the event of a medical dispute, patients may request consultation and mediation from an internal or external agency (Korea Consumer Agency, Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency).

5. Right to have values and beliefs respected

Patients will not be discriminated against because of their culture, religious values, or beliefs, and their rights will not be violated.

6. Right to receive care in a safe setting

Patients have the right to receive hospital-provided care where the patient’s medical information is protected and patient safety can be assured. In addition, patients have the right to be protected from possible dangers that can occur in a hospital and to have stability of mind and body.

Patients' Responsibilities

1. Responsibility to trust and respect the medical team

Patients must accurately inform the medical team of their health condition and must trust and respect the medical team's treatment plan. Patients may be responsible for consequences that result from not following instructions.

2. Responsibility to not use dishonest methods for medical treatment

Patients must reveal their identity before receiving any medical care and must not use false or dishonest methods, such as seeking medical care under disguised ownership.

3. Responsibility to abide by all hospital regulations

Patients are expected to treat all hospital staff and other patients with courtesy and respect; to abide by all hospital rules; and to earnestly fulfill their financial obligation to the hospital. Also, patients and their family members are expected to participate in all safety regulations.