12 children die in Japan after prohibited drug injections

12 children die in Japan after prohibited drug injections
PHOTO: 12 children die in Japan after prohibited drug injections

A total of 12 patients under 15 years old died between 2009 and 2013 following injections of propofol, a prohibited sedative for children on artificial respirators, Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital said on Thursday.

An official of the hospital in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, said at a press conference the hospital "considered there was no relations between the injections and their deaths."

The hospital plans to ask the third-party experts to investigate the cases.

In February, a 2-year-old boy, who was on a ventilator in an intensive care unit, died after he was injected with propofol.

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the case on the suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death.

Regarding the boy's death, the hospital admitted that there might be relation between the injection and his death.

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