Maybe in Japan, at this time, they didn't trust doctors?

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It could also be that early '70s Japan was a time and a place where one didn't have to fear being sued so much and therefore people weren't conditioned to call in a brigade of paramedic professionals at any accident via 911 and more likely to just try to help the victims themselves (for better or worse)?

Great recap LB! This was always one of my favorites, but again one that I never completely understood.

Although, I do agree with the later theories about why no ambulances. While I can't speak for the Japan, the US had no 911 system in the early seventies. Some communities, still had minimal ambulance service. It was not uncommon to see on TV shows of the time, people driving others or even themselves to the hospital for things that today we'd call an ambulance.

Also, ambulances are costly and not always covered by insurance. I remember a time in the early 80's while having an asthma attack at my grandmother's in Santa Cruz. I'm not sure why mother didn't drive (unless it had something to do with her not driving on the freeway very often), but instead of my mother driving or calling an ambulance, my aunt insisted on driving because of my father, my uncle, my grandmother, and her, she was the most sober. Yeah, this was before drunk driving laws, too.

One thing to keep in mind with viewing or reading things, we have a natural tendency to view from our current perspective or norms instead of looking at what was normal or acceptable at the time something was created. When we can do both, we can set up nice dichotomies.

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Perspective Alters Reality

Very interesting stories, LB and Amethyst! I know the feeling, that of feeling an idiot! When I went to Cambria (California), some ten years ago, I had developed a rather bad cold, with a very high fever. My DH (at that time my fiance) started panicking and called our hotel's reception to ask for a doctor. Instead, the receptionist called 911 and I was taken to a not-so-nearby hospital by ambulance! Yes, I was going to develop pneumonia, but all the hassle had been so exaggerated that I have felt like an idiot, too, not leaving out that I was going to lose the rest of my holiday plans! When the fever went down I've immediately signed to be discharged!

One thing I can say, though! If that same attention had been given to me when I have had that damn car accident, when I was fourteen, and if I had been immediately taken to hospital, instead of home, I wouldn't have had the problems I have today with my spinal injury! Nuff said!

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To be or not to be a gatchamaniac - that's the dilemma!

I would say it is, even though the idea of being picked up by Joe, taken home and given a back rub is very appealing! But in the end, Joe is no MD.

I've actually had to call 911 more times than I'd have cared to. Once for my son when he was a toddler having a severe asthma attack; two or three times for my husband for anaphalactic shock; and more recently once for my mother. It is definitely something that you feel silly and wonder if you are over-reacting whenever you do it.

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Perspective Alters Reality