A practicing doctor has publicly refuted singer Psy’s explanation regarding suspicions of illegally obtaining prescriptions for psychotropic drugs, arguing that what Psy described as “proxy pickup” actually constitutes “proxy prescription.”
On August 28, police confirmed that the Seodaemun Police Station in Seoul is investigating Psy and Professor A of a university hospital, who prescribed the medication, on allegations of violating the Medical Service Act. Investigators have also found evidence that Psy’s manager collected the drugs on his behalf. While Psy’s side admitted to proxy pickup, they denied allegations of proxy prescription.
Doctor B, posting on social media the same day, stated, “What does it even mean to say it was not proxy prescription but only proxy pickup? When someone other than the patient collects a prescription, that is precisely what we call proxy prescription.”
The doctor continued, “Yesterday, his agency said he had received remote prescriptions for several years but denied proxy prescriptions. Now they have suddenly changed their wording. Doctors know exactly why. Since drugs like Xanax and Stilnox are psychotropic substances and classified as narcotics, they cannot legally be prescribed through telemedicine. Realizing they admitted to years of illegal prescriptions, they are now calling it proxy pickup instead. In effect, they have confessed to long-term violations of the law.”
He added, “Unfortunately, when psychotropic or narcotic substances are involved, violations of the Medical Service Act are punished very strictly. It seems unlikely that either Psy or the prescribing physician will avoid consequences.”
Psy’s agency, P NATION, responded: “It is true that having his sleep medication, a prescription-only drug, collected by proxy was a serious mistake and oversight. Psy has been diagnosed with chronic sleep disorders and has taken sleep medication as prescribed by medical staff under proper dosage instructions. There was no proxy prescription.”
Police suspect that from 2022 until recently, Psy received prescriptions for Xanax and Stilnox from a university hospital without in-person consultations and had his manager collect them. Authorities recently seized records from the hospital to confirm details of the prescriptions.
By law, psychotropic drugs require face-to-face consultations and must be collected by the patient directly, except in rare cases involving immediate family or caregivers. During the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020, telemedicine and proxy pickup for such drugs were temporarily permitted, but the rules reverted in November 2021, requiring in-person consultations again.
SEE ALSO: Psy admits receiving prescription psychotropic drugs through a proxy, issues statement of apology
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