TOKYO, Oct 24: Japanese leaders traded blame on Friday as outrage mounted over the death of a seriously ill pregnant woman, who had been rejected by seven hospitals in Tokyo.

The 36-year-old woman was nearing labour and suffering a brain haemorrhage, but the hospitals said they did not have enough obstetricians and gynaecologists on duty at night.

One hospital that first rejected her finally let her in, allowing her to give birth by Caesarean section. But the woman died three days later from the brain damage. The baby survived.

Japan’s main opposition Democratic Party, which is pushing conservative Prime Minister Taro Aso to call early elections, convened a special meeting and said that the world’s second largest economy should have better health care. The health ministry “must feel gravely responsible”, an opposition official said after the meeting.—AFP