Serious problems in Japan

Woman has miscarriage after rejection by 9 hospitals

A woman of Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, miscarried Wednesday while riding in an ambulance after nine hospitals said they could not treat her, police said.

The woman, who was three months pregnant, was picked up by the ambulance in Kashihara after an acquaintance called the fire department of Chuwa in the prefecture at 2:45 a.m. and said the woman had previously had a miscarriage and was experiencing similar symptoms.

After the ambulance arrived, the woman had to wait until 4:20 a.m. before it could depart because of the refusals.

Chuwa Fire Department contacted Nara Medical University Hospital, the only hospital in Nara Prefecture available on the day that was accepting patients at its obstetrics and gynecology department, to ask if the woman could be admitted. But the hospital refused the request on three occasions on the ground that medical staff were busy treating other patients.

The five other hospitals in Osaka Prefecture contacted by the fire department also said they were busy treating other patients. After contacting four more hospitals in the prefecture, the department finally found one in Takatsuki willing to admit the woman. As a result, it took about 90 minutes from the time of the emergency call for the ambulance to depart for the hospital.

In August last year, a pregnant woman lost consciousness before giving birth at Oyodo Hospital in Oyodocho, Nara Prefecture, after being refused treatment at 19 hospitals in Nara and Osaka prefectures. She was eventually accepted at a hospital in Osaka Prefecture, but died eight days after giving birth to a boy.