Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 84 Part 2.djvu/540

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[84 STAT. 1870]
PUBLIC LAW 91-000—MMMM. DD, 1970
[84 STAT. 1870]

1870 Appropriation.

58 Stat. 683; 81 Stat. 539. 42 USC 202.

PUBLIC LAW 91-623-DEC. 31, 1970

" (g) To carry out the purposes of this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971; $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972; and $30,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973. SEC. 4. Title II of the Public Health Service Act is amended by adding after section 223 the following new section: D E F E N S E OF CERTAIN M A L P R ACT I C E A N D N E G L I G E N C E

62 Stat. 933, 983; 80 Stat. 306.

Civil action, removal from State to district court.

62 Stat. 869.

28 USC 1.

eiaims, settlement. 80 Stat. 307.

[84 STAT.

SUITS

"SEC. 223. (a) The remedy against the United States provided by sections 1346(b) and 2672 of title 28, or by alternative benefits provided by the United States where the availability of such benefits precludes a remedy under section 1346(b) of title 28, for damage for personal injury, including death, resulting from the performance of medical, surgical, dental, or related functions, including the conduct of clinical studies or investigation, by any commissioned officer or employee of the Public Health Service while acting within the scope of his office or employment, shall be exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding by reason of the same subject-matter against the officer or employee (or his estate) whose act or omission gave rise to the claim. " (b) The Attorney General shall defend any civil action or proceeding brought in any court against any person referred to in subsection (a) of this section (or his estate) for any such damage or injury. Any such person against whom such civil action or proceeding is brought shall deliver within such time after date of service or knowledge of service as determined by the Attorney General, all process served upon him or an attested true copy thereof to his immediate superior or to whomever was designated by the Secretary to receive such papers and such person shall promptly furnish copies of the pleading and process therein to the United States attorney for the district embracing the place wherein the proceeding is brought, to the Attorney General, and to the Secretary. "(c) Upon a certification by the Attorney General that the defendant was acting in the scope of his employment at the time of the incident out of which the suit arose, any such civil action or proceeding commenced in a State court shall be removed without bond at any time before trial by the Attorney General to the district court of the United States of the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending and the proceeding deemed a tort action brought against the United States under the provisions of title 28 and all references thereto. Should a United States district court determine on a hearing on a motion to remand held before a trial on the merit that the case so removed is one in which a remedy by suit within the meaning of subsection (a) of this section is not available against the United States, the case shall be remanded to the State Court: Provided, That where such a remedy is precluded because of the availability of a remedy through proceedings for compensation or other benefits from the United States as provided by any other law, the case shall be dismissed, but in the event the running of any limitation of time for commencing, or filing an application or claim in, such proceedings for compensation or other benefits shall be deemed to (have been suspended during the pendency of the civil action or proceeding under this section. " (d) The Attorney General may compromise or settle any claim asserted in such civil action or proceeding in the manner provided in section 2677 of title 28 and with the same effect. "(e) For purposes of this section, the provisions of section 2680(h)