Japan sees record number of medical accidents in 2018
“A total of 293 cases, or 7.3 percent, resulted in deaths, while 427 cases, or 10.6 percent, left patients with a high chance of permanent disabilities.0
Category: Health
Japanese health ministry to urge hospitals to enhance disaster preparedness
“The decision comes after the ministry’s survey following the deadly torrential rains in western Japan and the earthquake that caused a complete blackout in Hokkaido last year found that more than 100 of the hospitals do not meet either of the criteria.”
Hospitals scramble to secure doctors for 10-day Golden Week Holiday in Japan
“[A] Tokyo-based medical personnel resource service company, said, as of April 22, it had received 4,538 requests to dispatch doctors between April 27 and May 6, about 800 more than what it received during last year’s Golden Week period.”
Hospital head approved surgeon’s proposal to stop dialysis for kidney disease patients
“The woman signed a letter of intent to discontinue dialysis. The woman subsequently suggested her will to resume dialysis saying, “I’m wondering whether to retract the letter,” but she died.
“We offered various options to her and she made her own decision. We confirmed her will on multiple occasions, so what we did is an appropriate medical practice…””
20 nonterminally ill patients died after Fussa hospital didn’t carry out dialysis treatment
“The revelations follow the disclosure of the death of a 44-year-old woman suffering from a kidney ailment after a doctor at the hospital offered the option of discontinuing dialysis and she complied.”
Japan’s private obstetricians and gynecologists to be allowed to conduct prenatal tests to detect possible chromosome abnormalities
“The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s (JSOG) executive board has decided to allow obstetrician-gynecologists who run their own private practices to conduct blood tests on pregnant women to detect possible chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome in their babies.”
Japan OK’s iPS cell trial for treatment of spinal injuries
“The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry’s assessment committee on regenerative medicine approved Monday a clinical trial by Keio University’s team to transplant human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into patients with spinal cord injuries.”
Number of prenatal screening tests in Japan jumps 2.4 times in 10 years
“The number of prenatal tests conducted in Japan to check for serious health issues with the fetus has jumped 2.4 times over a 10-year period from 2006 to 2016, according to an estimate by researchers at the National Center for Child Health and Development and other institutions.”
Annual survey finds physical condition of Japan’s elderly has improved
“The physical strength and athletic ability of elderly people in Japan has largely improved, while that of people in their 30s and 40s has mostly fallen, the Japan Sports Agency said in an annual survey released Sunday.”
Concerns for patients as 5 in Gifu hospital die of heatstroke with air conditioning off
“In a hospital in Gifu City, five patients who were hospitalized in a room where the air conditioner failed are found dead one after another in two days.”
Barrier Free Japan 