Medical care in Japan

Article Abstract:

Japanese health care is more egalitarian and costs less than US health care, though there are complaints about its quality. In 1993 the estimated health care expenditure was $1,495 per capita in Japan, as opposed to $3,299 per capita in the US. In Japan, employers, employees, other individuals, and the government pay different portions of health care expenses. A national fee schedule, which is revised every two years, dictates the prices of all products and services. Patients choose their physicians, and physicians choose procedures, though physicians' decisions are reviewed afterward. Because all services must be available to everyone, expensive, technological procedures are rare, while less expensive lab tests are quite common. Elderly people tend to receive long-term care in hospitals. Because providers supply drugs to their patients at a profit, overprescribing drugs is a problem. Another significant problem is poor quality. Patients often wait a long time and do not have procedures explained to them.

Health aspects, Medical care

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Antiphospholipid antibody: babies, blood clots, biology

Article Abstract:

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome can cause many serious health problems, including gangrene of the extremities, strokes, heart attacks and miscarriages. It is caused by the production of antibodies against naturally occurring phospholipids in the body. It can occur alone or in combination with related autoimmune diseases such as lupus. It is not known exactly how the autoantibodies cause abnormal blood clotting, which is the cause of most of the complications. For this reason, treatment consists of anticoagulants such as heparin, warfarin and aspirin.

Causes of, Physiological aspects, Blood clotting disorders, Blood coagulation disorders, Antiphospholipid syndrome

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Where Should Women Deliver Babies in Japan?

Article Abstract:

It may be difficult to change the Japanese hospital system so that pregnant women only deliver in large regional hospitals. A study published in 2000 found that one-third of the maternal deaths during childbirth in Japan could have been prevented. One suggestion was to have all women at high risk of complications give birth in a large regional hospital. Another was to have more than one doctor present during delivery. These changes may be difficult to implement given Japan's current hospital system.

Editorial, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Complications and side effects, Hospitals, Childbirth, Delivery (Childbirth), Mothers, Maternal mortality

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