In a tragic turn of events, a 41-year-old nurse who worked at the Otsu Red Cross Hospital in Japan took her own life following severe power harassment from a physician. According to her family's legal complaint, which seeks over 100 million yen in damages from the Japanese Red Cross Society, the nurse experienced bullying while carrying out COVID-19 testing duties. Specifically, she was allegedly reprimanded harshly by a male physician for touching a curtain in a treatment area while wearing protective gear, a confrontation that deeply affected her mental health.

The complaint alleges that the resultant psychological trauma, caused by the physician’s abusive behavior, led to her developing severe depression. After the incident on March 8, 2021, the nurse sought psychiatric care shortly before her death on April 18. The Shiga Labor Insurance Review Board later recognized the connection between the harassment and her suicide, providing her family with compensation. This incident raises serious concerns about workplace bullying in healthcare settings, particularly during the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The husband of the deceased nurse has voiced his anguish, stating that his wife became increasingly distressed and afraid, even reacting violently to the sound of ambulance sirens following the harassment. He has called for the hospital to take accountability for the toxic work environment that contributed to her tragic outcome. While the Japanese Red Cross has thus far refrained from commenting due to not receiving the lawsuit, the case highlights ongoing issues surrounding workplace mental health and the necessity for addressing harassment in medical workplaces more thoroughly.