Tragic Consequence: Doctor's Suicide After 100 Days of Nonstop Work

A young doctor in Japan, Takashima Shingo, took his own life after working 100 consecutive days and logging over 200 hours of overtime in a month. His family is calling for changes in the health system to prevent deaths from overwork, known as "karoshi." The labor standards inspection office ruled that Takashima's depression was caused by overwork, and his overtime far exceeded the threshold for workers' compensation for mental disorders. Despite this, the hospital denies overworking him, stating that the logged overtime includes "self-study time." Overwork remains a problem in many sectors in Japan, particularly in healthcare.