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Getting away with murder: Is Japan's low autopsy rate hiding killers?

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Autopsies require trained professionals and in the case where theres a country where autopsies are rare, there probably isn't the manpower to have autopsies regularly performed. Also in Japan there's a lot of pressure to appear to have low crime and no problems, so it may be preferable.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

Funny thing though, if an elderly person or anyone is found dead, typically alone, an autopsy is automatic. So it's not like they arent done.

Probably the cops trust in their own ability to catch criminals than to rely on scientific evidence. (That is a joke btw)

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Yes

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I used to work with senior members of Japanese police and heard about this problem with the very low autopsy rate then. They told me there are no full-time forensic pathologists in Japan and it's a real hassle getting an autopsy done - since then I wonder about how many murders that go completely unnoticed in Japan.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

A more pervasive problem is probably suicides reported as accidental deaths to spare the feelings of relatives. My friends in the insurance industry say this is not uncommon.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Agree while all doctors need to take Autopsies 101.

To become certified to perform Autopsies they 1st need to become fully certified Surgeons and than need further studies for Autopsies(3-4yrs IIRC).

So lack of certified manpower could very possible a reason.

Also depends on which type/level of autopsy is performed on TV you usually see a Full Autopsy which can take hours/Days for full results and in most cases is not needed.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There were 933 murder and attempted murder cases in 2015 in Japan... but the low autopsy rate may be [DELIBERATELY] hiding the true figure

Last year there was a case of a ten-year-old boy found hanging from a tree with his hands and feet tied with tape, and the police said...

Suicide!!!

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Law enforcement requires money and a large court system, best to sweep it under the rug with the other problems.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

and the police said...

I recall the case, but not any police comments. Can you provide any further info?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Never mind the problem with autopsies - been watching Making a Murderer? Consider that Japan has a 99.8% conviction rate based on confessions!

So you could get away with murder here, but don't get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time~!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Japan doesn't care in this area, whatever is the least amount of work is often the case.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

In this eldery society the probability ofseek the easy money through those crimes is very attractive. There is not so little cases of womans married with ancien japanese waiting for this easy money.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

such tripe written by afp. they cherry pick autopsy figures from one country and then only england and wales. why? to mask the fact that the UK as a whole, and also the US, perform autopsies at similar rates to japan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsy#Prevalence

and of course the j-bashers go rabid when presented with such slanted statistics. this is what's called reading with bias.

-13 ( +5 / -18 )

they cherry pick autopsy figures from one country and then only england and wales. why? to mask the fact that the UK as a whole

Your point about use of statistics may be valid, but suggesting England and Wales is an unrepresentative sample of the UK is not at all valid since E&W account for about 87% of the UK population.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Iwase said, adding that specialists face a high risk of contracting Hepatitis C or HIV.

Iwase is a "professor" and he doesn't know the basic things about medical sciences? How exactly would a specialist doing an autopsy get either of these diseases?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Getting away with murder: Is Japan's low autopsy rate hiding killers?

Yes

3 ( +7 / -4 )

That's quite disturbing, hopefully they can sort this out before any enterprising murderers can find foolproof ways to get away with murder here

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@ WeiWei

Iwase is a "professor" and he doesn't know the basic things about medical sciences? How exactly would a specialist doing an autopsy get either of these diseases?

There are well documented cases of transmission of infectious diseases during autopsy. Medical science consider some autopsies as "High Risk" (patients with confirmed infection or without information to rule it out) since there is no practical way to reduce to nothing the risk of accidental exposure of the pathologist conducting the procedure.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9111095

A pathologist should recieve a salary comparable to other specialties and that would allow him to work full time conducting autopsies, and above that a substantial prime for high risk work (similar to the extra work received by radiologist exposed to X rays) in order to get professionals to work in this field, unless this is corrected the shortage will never end.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

In 2014, 11.7% of “unusual deaths”—the term used for cases in which cause is not immediately clear—resulted in autopsies, National Police Agency (NPA) figures show. That compares with 40% in England and Wales in 2014. And in Sweden, autopsies are performed on 95% of “unclear” deaths, according to the National Board of Forensic Medicine.

We cannot compare apples and oranges. "Autopsy" may mean kenshi (determination of cause of death) or kaibou (anatomical dissection of a body). 11.7% is anatomical dissection rate. Kenshi rate is 100%, though examination of a body without dissection may have higher rate of error in determining the cause of death.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Honestly, the whole system from the police, their refusal to take case that require investigation, the questioning & forced confession, to the court itself, all seems to be made to carry that 99% conviction rate so it should not be surprising to see that autopsy are indeed not a priority. Japan needs deep reforms but unfortunately the current PM has other focus. Now statistically I would like to see how that 99 conviction rate applies with the politician.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

The cops here fail their country & its people is so so many ways, now this medical aspect, autopsies is just another one to add to the pile.

Toss in lazy & highly corrupt prosecutors, extremely poor quality judges & it amounts to a real awful mess!!

So I think its pretty safe to say a LOT of people are getting away with murder & LOT are in jail serving sentences for the same who are innocent!

6 ( +9 / -3 )

GWFEB. 15, 2016 - 11:30AM JST

The cops here fail their country & its people is so so many ways, now this medical aspect, autopsies is just another one to add to the pile.

Toss in lazy & highly corrupt prosecutors, extremely poor quality judges & it amounts to a real awful mess!! So I think its pretty safe to say a LOT of people are getting away with murder & LOT are in jail serving sentences for the same who are innocent!

Yep, if you ever thought it bad in your country, come to Japan. Is it fair to group Japan into the developed nations when their justice system is so clearly still so undeveloped?

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

I wouldn't be surprised if at least some doctors who might think of becoming pathologists are discouraged to do so by their family, because dealing with corpses is seen by many as not being a very "respectable" job in Japan.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Getting away with murder: Is Japan's low autopsy rate hiding killers? Short answer.....yes.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

It's always amazing how far Japan is behind the rest of the advanced world in so many things, and yes, obviously, they are getting away with murder if these men were just pronounced dead of natural causes in 6 out of 8 of the woman's lovers. Absolutely stupidity.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

nakanoguy -

Japan's autopsy rate is and has always been historically low. Economic, cultural, religious and social reasons as well as the lack of qualified persons account for such. Some prefectures have no authorised physicians to perform autopsies at all. Autopsies have been and are rare.

Many other developed countries have had a much higher prevalence of carrying out autopsies when compared to Japan. Recently the trend has been a decrease in the # of autopsies performed in many countries. The reasons are many but include economic (costs), professional desirability (lack of ) and a BIG factor being the improvement in medical technology whereby determination of death is possible with less invasive procedures. Add to that, more people now die in facilities such as hospitals/ nursing homes etc, where their condition and health status are known and monitored more closely, resulting in a highly probable, known cause of death. Of course these factors also occur here.

So to indicate as you have, by saying statistics don't support Japans lack of autopsies, certainly is cherry-picking.

It simply is a known fact re the low autopsy rate in Japan, both now and historically, and is acknowledged by medical / police professionals. Nothing secret or sinister - it is what it is.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

nakanoguy

and of course the j-bashers go rabid when presented with such slanted statistics. this is what's called reading with bias.

you apologists don't get it, convincing Japan to practice more autopsy is helpful for Japanese Murder victims to get justice! now who is pro Japanese now and not?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So I think its pretty safe to say a LOT of people are getting away with murder & LOT are in jail serving sentences for the same who are innocent!

hahaha...based on what facts? it boggles the mind that you would say something so outlandish without offering one iota, one scintilla, of evidence. while a LOT of j-bashers may lap up your hate, it's pure ignorance. i think it's pretty safe to say that you live in a bubble and need to get out a LOT more.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

nakanoguy

hahaha...based on what facts?

Didn't you read the article? 2 women got away with murder multiple times with exactly the same strategy... that is a fact. If autopsy were done from their very first victims it could've saved lives. I think it's bitter and immature to say that this is J-Bashing..

6 ( +6 / -0 )

nakanoguy - who's in a bubble???

Please don't deal the inane "j-bashing card".. It dilutes the quality of discussion.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Toss in lazy & highly corrupt prosecutors, extremely poor quality judges & it amounts to a real awful mess!!

Interesting, provide some links to show where you arrived to that conclusion.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

nakanoguy01FEB. 15, 2016 - 09:46AM JST

of course the j-bashers go rabid when presented with such slanted statistics. this is what's called reading with bias.

No such thing as 'j-bashers' it's a figment of paranoid minds with an inferiority complex and obsession with own importance and others opinions. There is criticism of Japan and there is praise. Sometimes they deserve one, sometimes they deserve the other, like every single country on earth.

This article is criticizing the fact Japan has a very low rate of autopsy which COULD be contributing to murders going unnoticed. No reason for an emotional reaction here.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

You can have all the training in the world.... but in a country where "fitting in" and not "rocking the boat", are paramount, overlooking things may be common.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

igloobuyer

There is criticism of Japan and there is praise

well said!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Low autopsy rate, even though i just read the piece about an actor getting stabbed by a samurai sword in rehearsal and "The police said they will conduct an autopsy on the actor to confirm the cause of his death."

Bit of logic would go along way here.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Call Agent Dana Scully!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

So the low crime rate is related to this? I mean if you couldn't prove that it is a crime then for sure crime rate in your country will be less.. Just saying..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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