On Thursday, the government launched a new reporting system for deaths resulting from medical care. The iryojiko chosa seido (medical accidents investigation system), created based on last year's revisions to the Medical Care Law, is aimed at preventing recurrences of medical accidents and ensuring patient safety.
Under the system, all of the nation's 180,000 hospitals and clinics are mandated to investigate "unexpected" cases of patient deaths themselves, regardless of their legal liability, and report the results to the next of kin and a third-party organization.
While some people have hailed the move as a positive step to prevent adverse events, others say it falls short of adequately addressing the needs of patients and families wanting answers. Following are questions and answers on the issue: