Nuclear Medicine Faculty / Medical Staff >

Nuclear medicine is an advanced medical field that uses radioisotopes to diagnose and treat various states and diseases of the body. We administer tracers that reflect the body’s metabolism, and visualize their distribution or precisely measure the quantity of trace elements in the blood or body fluids to allow early diagnosis of diseases including many types of cancers, neurologic disease, heart disease, endocrine disease, and kidney disease, to aid in treatment. We also administer radiopharmaceuticals that gather at specific diseased regions of the body to treat diseases.

Strong points

The Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Samsung Medical Center consists of six professors, 10 physicians, and 60 staff members who provide world-class testing and medical services in our medical imaging, PET testing, and clinical specimen testing rooms.
In 1994, we opened our PET center with a PET scanner and cyclotron for the first time in Korea, and have performed a leading role in the field of nuclear imaging in the nation ever since.
Also, we obtained the international standard for medical service ISO15189 certificate through the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) in September 2014 for the first time in Korea, along with our world-class ex vivo specimen testing room.
As of 2015, we are equipped with four PET/CT scanners, seven SPECT gamma cameras, including a SPECT/CT scanner, two cyclotrons, six gamma-ray detectors, and two automatic dispensers, and most of them are up-to-date devices released at the end of 2000. Diagnosis and testing cases have increased annually, and in 2014 we performed 21,000 PET/CT tests, 24,000 general nuclear imaging tests, 870,000 cases of specimen tests using radioimmunoassay, and 800 treatments using radioisotopes. Our medical personnel provide rapid results with their expertise and experience in each field including tumors, cardiology, and neurologic diseases to allow for smooth treatment. We are doing our utmost to provide the best service by minimizing the waiting time for patients to lessen their inconvenience.

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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.