Yeah, this is definately one of my favorites. I remember a while back it wasn't being actively scanlated, so I wound up waiting 6 months or so per chapter, but now that its on steady release, I'm in hog heaven!

As for the patient focus, it is a little odd that the patients are almost universally victimized and pitiable... I believe that that may be the author's way of focusing on them without a use or possibly overuse of panel space.

As far as the criticizm of Japaniese medicine goes... this series is truely scathing. Compared to the sheepish patients, the majority of the featured medical staff are portrayed as very... clinical, pardon the pun. The oppressive atmosphere reminds me of the first few episodes of Monster, in a good way.