Mainichi Daily News
Copyright 2006 The Mainichi Newspapers
KASHIHARA, Nara — A man, who was treated for facial injuries by paramedics who decided not to send him to hospital, is still unconscious after suffering a brain hemorrhage, police said Saturday.
The local fire station to which the paramedics belong defended their decision, but said it will investigate further.
“At the time, the man was conscious. The paramedics’ decision was appropriate, but we’ll look into their actions,” the director of the fire station said.
The 42-year-old carpenter collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday after wandering into the parking lot of Kashihara Police Station. At the time, he was drunk.
Officers found him lying at the scene and alerted his family and paramedics after questioning him.
Paramedics rushed to the police station parking lot. After giving him first-aid treatment, they decided not to transport him to hospital as he was fully conscious and was able to talk normally.
They explained to his family that it would take a long time to find a medical institution that would accept him, and a family member signed a document agreeing that he would not be taken to hospital.
He went home after the paramedics told him and his family to call an ambulance if his condition worsened.
After arriving home, he vomited and was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed as suffering a brain hemorrhage. He remains unconscious.