Korean Skin Clinic Consent Forms: What Can an Interpreter Help With?
A Korean clinic may ask you to sign separate forms for a procedure, anaesthesia, personal data and photo use. If you sign every marked section without understanding the Korean text, it may be difficult to tell later what you agreed to.
An interpreter can translate the document into a language you understand and help you ask clinic staff for clarification. Acting as an interpreter, they cannot replace a doctor's medical explanation, decide whether a procedure is suitable for you, make the decision for you or sign on your behalf.
Under Article 24-2 of Korea's Medical Service Act, for surgery, blood transfusion and general anaesthesia that may cause serious harm, a doctor generally must provide the prescribed explanation and obtain written consent, subject to statutory exceptions. Clinic documents vary by procedure, and the presence of an interpreter does not replace an explanation that the law requires a doctor to provide.
Before you sign, separate these 4 types of information
Whether the form covers a procedure, anaesthesia, personal data or photo use
Which doctor provided any medical explanation required by law
Whether photos are only for clinical records or may also be used for promotion on a website or social media
Whether you can receive a copy of the signed form or access the record later
A photo taken for a clinical record and a photo authorised for promotion serve different purposes. If you do not understand where, how or for how long a photo may be used, ask separately about record-keeping and promotional use before signing.
What interpretation can and cannot do
MEI CHEONGDAM helps you distinguish the purpose of each form and ask clinic staff about anything still unclear. Interpretation helps you understand and communicate; it does not replace the doctor's explanation or your own decision and signature.
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