OSAKA — With just a few days to go until Osaka elects a new governor, the candidates are finding themselves facing an issue that is literally a life and death situation for all prefectural residents.
Earlier this month in Higashi Osaka, 49-year-old Masao Nishimura survived a car accident but died after the ambulance was turned away by five hospitals.
The city of Tondabayashi has seen a number of tragic cases. Only last month, an 89-year-old woman collapsed at home and died after being refused by 30 hospitals. In March, a 77-year-old woman died in an ambulance after being refused by 12 hospitals. That same month, an 85-year-old woman died after 40 minutes in the ambulance and being refused by 14 hospitals.