Turned away, pregnant woman dies

TOKYO, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Seven Tokyo hospitals turned away a pregnant woman who complained of headaches and vomiting, and who died three days later of a brain hemorrhage, officials say.

Metropolitan Bokuto Hospital, the first to reject the woman, admitted her an hour later, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported. When her doctor called the first time, the hospital said only one intern was on duty.

Most of the other hospitals blamed understaffing.

The woman gave birth by Caesarean section about an hour after being admitted Oct. 4. Soon afterward, she underwent brain surgery.

Metropolitan Bokuto Hospital has been an emergency care center for obstetrics since 1999. Officials say that under government standards the facility should have two obstetricians on duty round the clock, but the hospital has been unable to keep adequate staff to fulfill that requirement.

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