Police raided the headquarters of a medical equipment firm in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, over the death of a baby boy last year at a hospital run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The 3-month-old boy suffered respiratory failure March 13, 2001, when he was given oxygen after a tracheotomy at Toshima Hospital in Itabashi Ward. He died March 24.
The hospital used a tracheotomy tube sold by Tyco Healthcare Japan Inc., formerly Mallinckrodt Japan, and an anesthetic circuit manufactured by Acoma Co. during the procedure.
Police also raided 15 related locations, including the firm's offices nationwide.
In November 2000, another baby boy died in a similar incident at the same hospital.
Police suspect Tyco Healthcare did not take appropriate safety measures despite being aware that there was a risk of suffocation if the tracheotomy tube and anesthetic circuit were used together, police sources said.
The parents of the 3-month-old have filed an 82 million yen damages suit against the metropolitan government and the medical equipment companies.