Sec. 39. (a) A hospital owned, operated, or managed by the corporation shall be for the benefit of the residents of the county and of every person who becomes sick, injured, or maimed within the county.

     (b) A patient who is able to pay shall pay to the corporation a reasonable compensation for medicine or hospital services according to the rules prescribed by the board. The board or the board’s authorized representative may exclude from the hospital a person who willfully violates the rules. On terms and conditions the board prescribes, the corporation may:

(1) extend the privileges and use of the hospital, the corporation’s health care programs, and health care facilities to persons residing outside of the county; and

(2) own or operate nursing facilities located inside or outside of the county.

     (c) There may not be discrimination against practitioners of any school of medicine holding unlimited licenses to practice medicine recognized in Indiana. The licensed practitioners are entitled to equal privileges in treating patients in the hospital.

[Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-12-21-33.]

As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.91-2002, SEC.13; P.L.255-2003, SEC.52.