Police investigate after doctor performs abortion on wrong patient

South Korean police are investigating an incident in which a doctor reportedly performed an abortion on the wrong patient.

What are the details?

According to a Tuesday report by CNN, the unnamed doctor performed the abortion on the wrong woman in error.

The incident took place in August, when a woman — who was six weeks into her pregnancy — visited a clinic in Seoul for a checkup and a nutritional shot.

Due to a mistake in verifying the woman's medical records, the physician performed the abortion on her instead of another patient, who made an appointment for such services. Prior to the procedure, the nurse — who failed to verify the woman's medical information — injected the patient with anesthesia.

Yonhap reported that the doctor is being accused of negligence resulting in bodily harm.

"The doctor and nurse have acknowledged their fault," an official said. The patient, a Vietnamese national, did not realize she had undergone an abortion until the day after the procedure, when she discovered that she was bleeding, according to the Korea Times.

Abortion in South Korea is illegal, except in the cases of incest, rape, or when the pregnancy could threaten the life of the mother.