A luxurious obstetrics and gynecology clinic in western Tokyo may face illegal abortion charges after it was linked to the death of a 23-year-old woman who had an abortion procedure at the clinic in July.

An investigation was launched after the woman's husband, 26, filed a claim against the Mizuguchi Hospital in the city of Musashino, the police said Tuesday. The claim says the abortion procedure was performed by an unqualified doctor, possibly contributing to the woman's death. The couple's names have not been released.

According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, surgical abortion procedures can only be performed by doctors accredited by prefectural medical associations under the Maternal Protection Law. The clinic has confirmed that the doctor who carried out the surgery had no such accreditation.