Article 1Medical practitioners are to contribute to the improvement and promotion of public health through the administration of medical care and health guidance, and thereby ensure the healthy lives of the citizens.

Article 2A person who seeks to become a medical practitioner must pass the national examination for medical practitioners and receive a license from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Article 3A license is not granted to a minor, an adult ward, or a person under curatorship.

Article 4It is possible that a license will not be granted to person who falls under any of the following items:

Article 5A register of medical practitioners is to be prepared at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in which the date of registration, matters regarding dispositions pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (1) and paragraph (2), and other matters in relation to the medical practitioner's license are to be registered.

Article 6(1)Licensing is carried out by registration of the license in the register of medical practitioners upon application by a person who has passed the national examination for medical practitioners.

(2)The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare delivers a certificate of the medical practitioner's license when the Minister has granted a license.

(3)A medical practitioner must notify their name, address (and the address of the place the person engages in medical practice), and any other matters specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as of December 31 of every second year as specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare through the prefectural governor for the residential location, by January 15 of the following year.

Article 6-2When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds that a person who has applied for a medical practitioner's license falls under Article 4, item (i) and decides not to grant the person a license pursuant to the provisions of the same Article, the Minister must notify the applicant to that effect in advance, and must have an official designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare hear the opinion of the applicant when so requested by the applicant.

Article 7(1)When a medical practitioner comes to fall under Article 3, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare revokes their license.

(2)When a medical practitioner comes to fall under any item of Article 4 or has acted in a way that damages their respectability as a medical practitioner, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may render the following dispositions:

(3)A person who has been rendered a disposition of revocation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs (excluding persons who have been rendered a disposition of revocation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph as a person who falls under Article 4, item (iii) or item (iv) or who has acted in a way that damages their respectability as a medical practitioner, for whom five years have not elapsed since the date of disposition) may be granted a new license when the person no longer falls under the circumstances which led to the revocation or when it is found appropriate to grant a new license due to subsequent circumstances.In this case, the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis.

(4)In rendering a disposition as provided for in the preceding three paragraphs, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must hear the opinions of the Medical Ethics Council in advance.

(5)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare seeks to render a disposition to revoke a license pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2), the Minister may request that the prefectural governor hear the opinions of the person subject to the disposition, and the hearing of opinions may be substituted for the hearing of opinions by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

(6)The provisions of Chapter III, Section 2 (excluding Article 25, Article 26, and Article 28) of the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993) apply mutatis mutandis to the case in which hearing of opinions is conducted by a prefectural governor pursuant to the preceding paragraph. In this case, the term "hearing" in Section 2 is deemed to be replaced with "hearing of opinions," the term "administrative agency" in Article 15, paragraph (1) with "prefectural governor," the terms "administrative agency," "the administrative agency," and "the administrative agency's" in Article 15, paragraph (3) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 22, paragraph (3)) with "prefectural governor," "the prefectural governor," and "the prefectural governor's" respectively, the term "administrative agency" in Article 16, paragraph (4) and Article 18, paragraph (1) and paragraph (3) with "prefectural governor," the phrase "an official designated by the administrative agencies or other such persons provided for by Cabinet Order" in Article 19, paragraph (1) with "an official designated by the prefectural governor," the term "administrative agency" in Article 20, paragraph (1), paragraph (2), and paragraph (4) with "prefecture," and the term "administrative agency" in Article 20, paragraph (6), Article 24, paragraph (3), and Article 27, paragraph (1) with "prefectural governor."

(7)When documents proving the facts leading to the relevant disposition or other documents necessary for conducting a hearing of opinions is requested by a prefectural governor, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must promptly send the documents to the prefectural governor.

(8)In conducting a hearing of opinions pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (5), when the prefectural governor has received a record as set forth in Article 24, paragraph (1) of the same Act and a written report as set forth in Article 24, paragraph (3) of the same Act, the governor must, pursuant to the provisions of Article 24, paragraph (3) of the Administrative Procedure Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (6) following the deemed replacement of terms, keep the record and the written report, draw up a written opinion stating their opinion concerning the decision on the disposition, and submit this to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare along with a copy of the record and the written report.

(9)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds it necessary in light of the circumstances that arose after the conclusion of hearing of opinions, the Minister may request the prefectural governor to return the written report submitted pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph and order the presiding official to resume the hearing of opinions. The provisions of the main text of Article 22, paragraph (2), and paragraph (3) of the Administrative Procedure Act apply mutatis mutandis to this case.

(10)In making a decision on the disposition, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must carefully consider the details of the written opinion and copies of the record and written report submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (8).

(11)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare seeks to order the suspension of medical practice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2), the Minister may request the prefectural governor to hear the explanation of the person subject to the disposition, and may substitute the hearing of explanation for the Minister's grant of an opportunity for explanation.

(12)In conducting an explanation hearing pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the prefectural governor must notify the person subject to the disposition of the following matters in writing, within a reasonable period of time prior to the date of the explanation hearing:

(13)In addition to the case referred to in paragraph (11), the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may have a member of the Medical Ethics Council hear the explanation of the person subject to the disposition, in lieu of the Minister's grant of an opportunity for explanation.In this case, the term "preceding paragraph" in the preceding paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "following paragraph," the term "prefectural governor" is deemed to be replaced with "Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare," and the provisions of the same paragraph apply.

(14)A person who has received a notice as set forth in paragraph (12) (including cases where the deemed replacement of terms are applied pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of the preceding paragraph) may have an agent appear and submit documentary evidence or articles of evidence.

(15)When an explanation hearing has been conducted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (11) or the first sentence of paragraph (13), the prefectural governor or a member of the Medical Ethics Council must prepare and keep a hearing report, draw up a written report stating their opinion on the decision of the disposition, and submit this to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

(16)When a prefectural governor is to conduct a hearing of opinions or an explanation hearing pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (5) or paragraph (11), the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must notify the governor of the following matters in advance:

(17)Both the notice under Article 15, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (6) following the deemed replacement of terms in which a hearing of opinions is conducted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (5), and the notice under paragraph (12) in which an explanation hearing is conducted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (11), must be based on the details notified pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(18)The provisions of Chapter III of the Administrative Procedure Act (excluding Article 12 and Article 14) do not apply to the disposition when the prefectural governor conducts a hearing of opinions or an explanation hearing pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (5) or paragraph (11), or when a member of the Medical Ethics Council conducts an explanation hearing pursuant to the provisions of the first sentence of paragraph (13).

Article 7-2(1)The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may order a medical practitioner who has been rendered a disposition set forth in paragraph (2), item (i) or item (ii) of the preceding Article, or a person who seeks to receive a new license pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of the same Article to undergo the training on maintenance of ethics as a medical practitioner or the training on the knowledge and skills that should be possessed as a medical practitioner that is specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (hereinafter referred to as "reeducation training").

(2)Upon application by a person who has completed the reeducation training pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare registers the fact that the person has completed the reeducation training in the register of medical practitioners.

(3)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare has made a registration as set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Minister delivers a registration certificate for completion of reeducation training.

(4)A person seeking to be registered as set forth in paragraph (2) or a person seeking to be issued a replacement or redelivery of the registration certificate for completion of reeducation training must pay the amount of fees that is specified by Cabinet Order in consideration of the actual costs.

(5)The provisions of Article 7, paragraphs (11) through (18) (excluding paragraph (13)) apply mutatis mutandis to the case in which the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare seeks to render an order pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1).In this case, the necessary technical replacement of terms is specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 7-3(1)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds that it is necessary to investigate whether a disposition should be made regarding a medical practitioner pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (2), the Minister may seek the opinions of and collect reports from persons who are connected with the case, or witnesses, order the owners of medical records and other objects to submit them, and have the relevant officials enter the hospital or any other location that is connected with the case and inspect the medical records and other objects.

(2)An official seeking to carry out entry and inspection pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must carry an identification card and produce it when requested to do so by the persons concerned.

(3)The authority for entry and inspection pursuant to paragraph (1) must not be construed as being approved for the purposes of criminal investigation.

Article 8Beyond what is provided for in this Chapter, necessary matters related to application for license, registration, correction, and cancellation in the register of medical practitioners, the delivery, replacement, redelivery, return, and submission of license certificates, and notification of address are specified by Cabinet Order, and necessary matters related to the implementation of reeducation training as set forth in Article 7-2, paragraph (1), registration in the register of medical practitioners as set forth in paragraph (2) of the same Article, and the delivery, replacement, and redelivery of the registration certificate for completion of reeducation training as set forth in paragraph (3) are specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Article 9The national examination for medical practitioners tests the requisite knowledge and skills related to medical science and public health in clinical practices that a person should possess as a medical practitioner.

Article 10(1)The national examination for medical practitioners and the national preliminary examination for medical practitioners are to be given by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare at least once every year.

(2)The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must hear the opinions of the Medical Ethics Council in advance when seeking to specify the subjects, implementation, or method of determining successful examinees of the national examination for medical practitioners or the national preliminary examination for medical practitioners.

Article 11A person who does not fall under any of the following items may not take the national examination for medical practitioners:

Article 12A person who has graduated from a medical school in a foreign state or who has acquired a medical practitioner's license in a foreign state may take the national preliminary examination for medical practitioners if the person does not fall under item (iii) of the preceding Article and has been approved as eligible by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Article 13and Article 14 Deleted

Article 15When there has been any wrongful act in connection with the national examination for medical practitioners or the national preliminary examination for medical practitioners, the person involved in the wrongful act may be stopped from taking the examination, or may have the examination invalidated.In this case, the person may be barred from taking the examination within a specified period.

Article 16Beyond what is provided for in this Chapter, the subjects for examination, examination procedures, and other necessary matters related to examinations, as well as necessary matters related to practical training, are specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Article 16-2(1)A medical practitioner who seeks to engage in medical practice must undergo clinical training for a period of two years or more at a university hospital with a medical science course or at a hospital designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

(2)When the Minster of Health, Labour and Welfare subsequently finds that it is inappropriate for the hospital the Minister designated pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph to conduct clinical training, the Minister may revoke the designation.

(3)When the Minster of Health, Labour and Welfare seeks to designate a hospital pursuant to paragraph (1) or revoke the designation under the preceding paragraph, the Minster must hear the opinions of the Medical Ethics Council in advance.

(4)In applying the provisions of paragraph (1), a hospital in a foreign state that is found to be appropriate by the Minster of Health, Labour and Welfare is deemed to be a hospital designated by the Minster of Health, Labour and Welfare pursuant to paragraph (1).

Article 16-3A medical practitioner who is undergoing clinical training must devote themselves to the clinical training and endeavor to improve their qualities.

Article 16-4(1)Upon application by a person who has completed the clinical training pursuant to the provisions of the Article 16-2, paragraph (1), the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must register the fact that the person has completed clinical training in the register of medical practitioners.

(2)When the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare has made a registration as set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Minister delivers a registration certificate for completion of clinical training.

Article 16-5A person seeking to be registered as set forth in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article or a person seeking to be issued a replacement or redelivery of the registration certificate for completion of clinical training must pay the amount of fees that is specified by Cabinet Order in consideration of the actual costs.

Article 16-6Beyond what is provided for in this Chapter, necessary matters related to designation as set forth in Article 16-2, paragraph (1), registration in the register of medical practitioners as set forth in Article 16-4, paragraph (1), delivery, replacement, and redelivery of registration certificate for completion of clinical training as set forth in Article 16-4, paragraph (2) are specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 17No person except a medical practitioner may engage in medical practice.

Article 18No person except a medical practitioner may use the title of medical practitioner or a title that may be confused with this.

Article 19(1)No medical practitioner who engages in medical practice may refuse any request for medical examination or treatment without legitimate grounds.

(2)No medical practitioner who has performed an examination or fact examination, or who was in attendance at a birth may refuse a request for a medical certificate, certificate of post mortem examination, birth certificate, or certificate of stillbirth without legitimate grounds.

Article 20No medical practitioner may provide medical treatment or issue a medical certificate or prescription without personally performing a medical examination, nor issue a birth certificate or certificate of stillbirth without personally being in attendance at the birth, nor issue a certificate of post mortem examination without personally performing the fact examination; provided, however, that this does not apply to a death certificate that has been issued where a patient undergoing medical care has died within 24 hours of the medical examination.

Article 21When a medical practitioner finds any abnormality during the fact examination of a corpse or stillborn baby from a pregnancy that had entered its fourth month or beyond, the medical practitioner must notify the competent police station within 24 hours.

Article 22If a medical practitioner finds it necessary to dispense and administer medicine as a part of a patient's treatment, the medical practitioner must issue a prescription to the patient or a person caring for the patient; provided, however, that this does not apply when the patient or a person caring for the patient states that it is not necessary to issue a prescription, or in any of the following cases:

Article 23When a medical practitioner has provided medical care, the medical practitioner must give guidance to the person in question or to their custodian on the method of treatment and other matters necessary to improve their health.

Article 24(1)When a medical practitioner has provided medical care, the medical practitioner must enter the matters related to that medical care in a medical record without delay.

(2)Medical records as set forth in the preceding paragraph must be kept for a period of five years by the administrator of the hospital or clinic where medical care was provided by a medical practitioner works at that hospital or clinic, and by the medical practitioner themselves for medical records related to other medical care.

Article 24-2(1)Where there is a risk of causing serious harm to public health, and the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds it especially necessary to do so in order to prevent the harm, the Minister may give necessary instructions to medical practitioners regarding medical treatment or health guidance.

(2)The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must hear the opinions of the Medical Ethics Council in advance before giving instructions pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 25and Article 26 Deleted

Article 27(1)A medical practitioners' examiner is to be assigned at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to administer affairs related to the national examination for medical practitioners and the national preliminary examination for medical practitioners.

(2)Necessary matters related to the medical practitioners' examiner are specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 28and Article 29 Deleted

Article 30The medical practitioners' examiner and other persons in charge of affairs related to the national examination for medical practitioners and the national preliminary examination for medical practitioners must preserve impartiality and not act unfairly in implementing those affairs.

Article 30-2The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare is to publicize the names of medical practitioners and other matters specified by Cabinet Order, to enable persons receiving medical treatment and the citizens to confirm the qualifications of medical practitioners and to choose adequate medical treatment.

Article 30-3The affairs to be administered by the prefectures pursuant to provisions of Article 6, paragraph (3), Article 7, paragraph (5), the first sentence of Article 7, paragraph (9), and Article 7, paragraph (11) and paragraph (12) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 7-2, paragraph (5)), Article 15, paragraph (1) and paragraph (3) of the Administrative Procedure Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 7, paragraph (6) (including as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 22, paragraph (3) of the same Act), Article 16, paragraph (4), Article 18, paragraph (1) and paragraph (3), Article 19, paragraph (1), and Article 15, paragraph (3) of the Administrative Procedure Act as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 22, paragraph (3) of the same Act, as applied mutatis mutandis to Article 20, paragraph (6), Article 24, paragraph (3), and the second sentence of Article 7, paragraph (9) are to be Type I statutory entrusted functions prescribed in the provisions of Article 2, paragraph (9), item (i) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947).

Article 31(1)A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by imprisonment with work for not more than three years, a fine of not more than one million yen, or both:

(2)When a person who has committed the crime set forth in item (i) of the preceding paragraph has used the title of medical practitioner or a similar title, the person is punished by imprisonment with work for not more than three years, a fine of not more than two million yen, or both.

Article 32A person who has been ordered to suspend medical practice pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (2) and who has engaged in medical practice during the period of suspension is punished by imprisonment with work for not more than one year, a fine of not more than five hundred thousand yen, or both.

Article 33A person who has violated the provisions of Article 30 and has divulged examination questions in advance either intentionally or through gross negligence, or who has intentionally and wrongfully scored examinations is punished by imprisonment with work for not more than one year or a fine of not more than five hundred thousand yen.

Article 33-2A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by a fine of not more than five hundred thousand yen:

Article 33-3When the representative of a corporation, or an agent, employee or other worker of a corporation or individual violates the provisions of item (iii) of the preceding Article with regard to the practices of the corporation or individual, not only the offender, but also the corporation or individual is punished by the fine prescribed in that Article.