In addition, it says the 1986 law does not apply to emergency patients after a hospital has admitted them.

Under the law, hospitals are required to provide at least initial treatment for most emergency patients.

A report has shown that more than 14,000 emergency patients were rejected at least three times by hospitals in Japan before getting treatment.

Ambulances bring in emergency patients, often identified through a 24-hour hot line.

It will not apply to emergency patients, which the hospital is required by law to accept.

"You received an emergency patient here about two hours ago; a man with his right arm cut off."

A few dentists did agree to see the emergency patient.

He wrote the law that made it a crime for hospitals, public or private, to turn away emergency patients.

He was on duty until 6:00, and seldom got the chance to sleep even if no emergency patients came in.

Administrators say nearly one-third of the 2,500 emergency patients a month have no insurance.