38-Year-Old Woman Dies at Ishinomaki Disability Facility After Bath at 50°C Causes Burns in 2022, Police Investigate Possible Negligence in 2025 [Podcast Episode]

By Barrier Free Japan

September 13 2025

Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture – A 38-year-old woman with disabilities died after suffering severe burns while bathing at the Hitakami-en facility in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, police revealed. Kana Abe developed extensive skin damage following staff-assisted bathing in 2022, and later died in hospital from respiratory failure caused by burns covering 60 percent of her body. A facility report suggested the bathwater temperature was about 50 degrees Celsius. Police are investigating the incident on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death.

Abe’s family sued the facility in February 2025 and the police are investigating two people who were in charge at the time, along with the person responsible for the site.

Episode notes:

‘38-Year-Old Woman Dies at Disability Facility After Bath at 50°C Causes Burns, Police Investigate Possible Negligence’:

38-Year-Old Woman Dies at Disability Facility After Bath at 50°C Causes Burns, Police Investigate Possible Negligence

‘Further Details Emerge About Burns Victim at Ishinomaki Facility for People with Disabilities’:

Further Details Emerge About Burns Victim at Ishinomaki Facility for People with Disabilities