Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu died suddenly in Japan of complications from influenza, an event that has sparked widespread debate over the apparent missed opportunities for desperately needed medical intervention.

According to Taiwan's local media outlet, upon Hsu's landing in Japan with her family, she started having symptoms of coughing and asthma.
While she presented to the doctor for the first time on Jan. 31, experts say she most likely missed a 48-hour key window for effective antiviral treatment.
Former legislator Guo Zhengliang laments that "it is a pity" that a tourist city like Hakone, with a small population, has limited medical capacity. "This may have been a careless oversight," he said.
Guo said Hsu had been "sickly" or "fragile" her whole life, which may have made the impact of the disease more severe. "The first 48 hours are crucial for treatment," he said, and suggested "the outcome may have been different had they received faster access to high-level medical care in Tokyo."
Hsu was diagnosed with Influenza A at a small local hospital on Feb. 1 but did not get more treatment after traveling to Tokyo later the same day, the reports say.
Her health had declined sharply by Feb. 2, and she died that early morning.
Read more: 'Meteor Garden' Star Barbie Hsu Passes Away at 48 in Japan After A Family Holiday Turned Tragic
The story of the events has since spread far and wide online, with netizens bemoaning the missed opportunity for timely intervention. Japanese nationalists have also expressed concern about foreign patients using Japan's healthcare system.
Fans and family members are still in shock at the untimely demise of the actress, as debates rage on about what could have been done and how deficiencies and systemic malfunctions of the healthcare system played a role in the tragedy.
Here are some heartfelt messages from fans on her Weibo account:
