Media attention on the abuse of propofol, which is also called the "milk drug" or "white one" because of its typical white color, has increased significantly in Korea since the drug was implicated in the death of a lover of a gynecologist in August 2012. The misuse and abuse of propofol among healthcare providers has been reported worldwide, and some misuse has resulted in death (1-3). A recent survey utilizing a convenience sample of recovering anesthesia providers found rates as high as 3% for propofol misuse in the United States (4); however, the misuse of this drug appears to be much higher considering that misusers would probably not reply to such surveys. There is a similar situation in Korea. According to a report from the National Forensic Service of Korea, death related to propofol administration included 36 cases from 2000 to 2011 (5).
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