4th February 2025 – (Tokyo) Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, passed away at the age of 48 after contracting influenza during a family trip to Japan over the Lunar New Year, which subsequently led to pneumonia. A Taiwanese doctor practising in Japan has suggested that her sudden death may be linked to specific aspects of the Japanese healthcare system and language barriers.
Before her passing, Barbie had attended a gathering with her husband, DJ Koo, to celebrate a friend’s daughter’s return home, appearing in good health. Just ten days later, she succumbed to the illness, leaving fans and colleagues in disbelief. Dr. Jeff Yang, vice director of Aphro Clinic, shared insights from his university friend, Dr. Jo Tatsunori, a chest physician in Japan. Dr. Tatsunori noted that Japan’s hospital hierarchy is very strict, especially in rural areas such as Hakone or Hokkaido, where facilities may lack emergency services, on-call doctors, or intensive care units (ICUs). If a patient requires advanced treatment, they must be referred to another hospital, which can delay critical care. He recalled a time when he was the only doctor on duty at a hospital, highlighting the stark difference compared to Taiwan’s readily available medical centres.
Furthermore, Dr. Tatsunori explained that Japanese doctors are generally hesitant to treat foreign patients for several reasons. Medical fees for foreign patients are typically three times higher than for local patients. Additionally, many Japanese doctors have limited English proficiency, making it challenging to communicate with foreign patients. Effective communication is crucial for accurate medical histories, and misunderstandings can result in delayed treatment. Dr. Tatsunori emphasised that this situation is not the fault of Japanese doctors, as language abilities vary among individuals. While travel insurance usually covers medical expenses, it does not guarantee that a doctor will be available to provide treatment.