NARA -- Police have decided to investigate a case where a pregnant woman died after she fell unconscious during treatment at a hospital after 18 institutions refused to treat her.

Mika Takasaki, 32, from Gojo, Nara Prefecture, fell unconscious at Oyodo Hospital in the prefecture on early Aug. 8. As it was not equipped to treat her, the hospital tried to find another institution, but 18 hospitals refused to accept her.

She was eventually accepted by the National Cardiovascular Center in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, at about 6 a.m. on Aug. 8. Doctors at the center deemed that Takasaki had suffered a stroke and operated on her. She gave birth to a baby boy through a Caesarean Section but died on Aug. 16.

When Takasaki fell unconscious at Oyodo Hospital earlier, an obstetrician diagnosed her as having convulsions and administered her drugs.

On Tuesday, Oyodo Hospital officials said that it was a mistake for the obstetrician to deem that Takasaki was having convulsions during child delivery.

Therefore, Nara police will investigate the case on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and will try to find out if the mistake at the hospital led to Takasaki's death or not.

Police will also discuss whether to press charges against the other hospitals that refused to treat Takasaki. Some of them said that they couldn't accept the pregnant woman because they had no available beds. (Mainichi)

poor dear.

So very sad.

oh man, that is horrible. good lord.