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B-114839 1 (1979-01-25)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadgwc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 
FILE:  B-114839


DATE:   January 25, 1979


MATTER OF: Governor of Canal Zone Gov nt- uthority
               - Ca;al-Zn  Coe     71o  indemni 7     rnment
               jhysician for damages aTd :?Ti        wit-
DIGEST:        malpractice suft brougt against him in his personal
               capacity.  -

1.  Section 271, title 2, of Cgnalloutaode does not authorize
    Governor of Canal Zone Government to indemnify Government
 <--7physician for damages paid in connection with malpractice
    suit bro  ht against him in his ers6nalf 5capac:tThrf-  acts


2.  Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2680(k), Federal Tort Claims Act does
    not apply to claims arising in foreign countries, thereby
    exposing to personal liability Government medical personnel
    who perform negligent acts in foreign countries, or under
    other circmstances not cognizable under the Act.

3.  Absent/specific protective legislation authorizing heads of
    Government agencies to hold harmless or provide liability
    insurance for medical personnel for negligent acts arising
    out of the performance of their official duties in a foreign
    country, these employees (including medical personnel of the
    Canal Zone Government) are subject to personal liability for
    such acts.

    This  is in response to a eques  from the Governor of the
Ca         Government that we urnish an advisory opinion on
whether the foe19LX_0   h _eag1 _Zoq   is authorized,  y section
271 of title 2 of the Canal Zone Code, as amended, 8 Stat. 1973
(1975), to indeif   a physician for damages paid by im (whether
pursuant to judgment or settlement) in connection wit a malpractice
sut rising outofhis   emloym      whth  e Cna~nlZoeovernmn     -t
For the reasons set forth below, we believe that the Governor is
not so authorized.

     A civil action was filed in the United States District Court
for the District of the Canal Zone against a physician employed
by the  aIal Zone Government (an independent agency of the United
States Government), alleging negligence in providing medical
treatment aad seeking $15,000 in damages against the physician
in his personal capacity. Neither the United States nor the


          -rME CD0MPTRD'LLER GENERAL
          oF   -rHE   UNITE13 STATES
       ~5WASHINGTON, 0. C. 20548
t 1                                    1


DECISIDVA4

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