SENATE BILL No. 689

 

 

September 16, 2003, Introduced by Senators GOSCHKA, GEORGE and HARDIMAN and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Revised judicature act of 1961,"                                           

                                                                                

    by amending section 2912c (MCL 600.2912c), as added by 1986 PA              

                                                                                

    178.                                                                        

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 2912c.  (1) In an action alleging medical malpractice,                 

                                                                                

2   a party named as  a defendant  in the action  may, instead of              

                                                                                

3   answering or otherwise pleading, file with the court an affidavit           

                                                                                

4   certifying that he or she was not involved, either directly or              

                                                                                

5   indirectly, in the occurrence alleged in the action.  Unless the            

                                                                                

6   affidavit is opposed  pursuant to  as provided in subsection (2),           

                                                                                

7   the court shall order the dismissal of the claim  , without                 

                                                                                

8   prejudice,  against the affiant without prejudice.                          

                                                                                

9       (2)  Any  A party to  the action  an action alleging medical                

                                                                                

10  malpractice may oppose the dismissal under subsection (1) or move           

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   to vacate an order of dismissal and reinstate the party who filed           

                                                                                

2   the affidavit if it can be shown that the party filing the                  

                                                                                

3   affidavit was involved in the occurrence alleged in the action.             

                                                                                

4   Reinstatement of a party to the action under this subdivision               

                                                                                

5   shall  is not  be  barred by  any  a statute of limitations                

                                                                                

6   defense that was not valid at the time the action was originally            

                                                                                

7   commenced against the affiant.  The opposing party may obtain               

                                                                                

8   discovery regarding the involvement or noninvolvement of the                

                                                                                

9   party filing the affidavit.  The discovery shall be completed               

                                                                                

10  within 90 days after the date the affidavit is filed.                       

                                                                                

11      (3) The court shall dismiss a claim in an action alleging                   

                                                                                

12  medical malpractice brought against an emergency physician who is           

                                                                                

13  board certified in emergency medicine if all of the following               

                                                                                

14  apply:                                                                      

                                                                                

15      (a) The claim is not based on medical care provided by the                  

                                                                                

16  emergency physician.                                                        

                                                                                

17      (b) The claim is based on medical care provided by another                  

                                                                                

18  health professional who has privileges with, is employed by, or             

                                                                                

19  is under contract with the health facility to which the plaintiff           

                                                                                

20  was admitted.                                                               

                                                                                

21      (c) The only connection between the alleged medical                         

                                                                                

22  malpractice and the emergency physician is that the emergency               

                                                                                

23  physician recommended the plaintiff's admission to the health               

                                                                                

24  facility.