§1231.8. Medical review panel

            A.(1)(a) All malpractice claims against health care providers covered by this Part, other than claims validly agreed for submission to a lawfully binding arbitration procedure, shall be reviewed by a medical review panel established as hereinafter provided for in this Section. The filing of a request for review by a medical review panel as provided for in this Section shall not be reportable by any health care provider, the Louisiana Patient's Compensation Fund, or any other entity to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, to any licensing authority, committee, or board of any other state, or to any credentialing or similar agency, committee, or board of any clinic, hospital, health insurer, or managed care company.

            (b) A request for review of a malpractice claim or a malpractice complaint shall contain, at a minimum, all of the following:

            (i) A request for the formation of a medical review panel.

            (ii) The name of only one patient for whom, or on whose behalf, the request for review is being filed; however, if the claim involves the care of a pregnant mother and her unborn child, then naming the mother as the patient shall be sufficient.

            (iii) The names of the claimants.

            (iv) The names of the defendant health care providers.

            (v) The dates of the alleged malpractice.

            (vi) A brief description of the alleged malpractice as to each named defendant health care provider.

            (vii) A brief description of the alleged injuries.

            (c) A claimant shall have forty-five days from the date of receipt by the claimant of the confirmation of receipt of the request for review in accordance with Subparagraph (3)(a) of this Subsection to pay to the board a filing fee in the amount of one hundred dollars per named defendant qualified under this Part.

            (d) Such filing fee may be waived only upon receipt of one of the following:

            (i) An affidavit of a physician holding a valid and unrestricted license to practice his specialty in the state of his residence certifying that adequate medical records have been obtained and reviewed and that the allegations of malpractice against each defendant health care provider named in the claim constitute a claim of a breach of the applicable standard of care as to each named defendant health care provider.

            (ii) An in forma pauperis ruling issued in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure Article 5181 et seq. by a district court in a venue in which the malpractice claim could properly be brought upon the conclusion of the medical review panel process.

            (e) Failure to comply with the provisions of Subparagraph (c) or (d) of this Paragraph within the specified forty-five day time frame in Subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph shall render the request for review of a malpractice claim invalid and without effect. Such an invalid request for review of a malpractice claim shall not suspend time within which suit must be instituted in Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection.

            (f) All funds generated by such filing fees shall be private monies and shall be applied to the costs of the Patient's Compensation Fund Oversight Board incurred in the administration of claims.

            (g) The filing fee of one hundred dollars per named defendant qualified under this Part shall be applicable in the event that a claimant identifies additional qualified health care providers as defendants. The filing fee applicable to each identified qualified health care provider shall be due forty-five days from the mailing date of the confirmation of receipt of the request for review for the additional named defendants in accordance with Subparagraph (3)(a) of this Subsection.

            (2)(a) The filing of the request for a review of a claim shall suspend the time within which suit must be instituted, in accordance with this Part, until ninety days following notification, by certified mail, as provided in Subsection J of this Section, to the claimant or his attorney of the issuance of the opinion by the medical review panel, in the case of those health care providers covered by this Part, or in the case of a health care provider against whom a claim has been filed under the provisions of this Part, but who has not qualified under this Part, until ninety days following notification by certified mail to the claimant or his attorney by the board that the health care provider is not covered by this Part. The filing of a request for review of a claim shall suspend the running of prescription against all joint and solidary obligors, and all joint tortfeasors, including but not limited to health care providers, both qualified and not qualified, to the same extent that prescription is suspended against the party or parties that are the subject of the request for review. Filing a request for review of a malpractice claim as required by this Section with any agency or entity other than the division of administration shall not suspend or interrupt the running of prescription. All requests for review of a malpractice claim identifying additional health care providers shall also be filed with the division of administration.

            (b)(i) The request for review of a malpractice claim under this Section shall be deemed filed on the date the request is:

            (aa) Sent, if the request is electronically sent by facsimile transmission or other authorized means, as provided by R.S. 9:2615(A), to the division of administration.

            (bb) Mailed, if the request is delivered by certified or registered mail to the division of administration.

            (cc) Received, if the request is delivered to the division of administration by any means other than as provided by Subitem (aa) or (bb) of this Item.

            (ii) Upon receipt, the request shall be stamped with the filing date and certified by the division of administration. Filing of the request shall be complete only upon timely compliance with the provisions of Subparagraph (1)(c) or (d) of this Subsection. Upon receipt of any request, the division of administration shall forward a copy of the request to the board within five days of receipt.

            (c) An attorney chairman for the medical review panel shall be appointed within one year from the date the request for review of the claim was filed. Upon appointment of the attorney chairman, the parties shall notify the board of the name and address of the attorney chairman. If the board has not received notice of the appointment of an attorney chairman within nine months from the date the request for review of the claim was filed, then the board shall send notice to the parties by certified or registered mail that the claim will be dismissed in ninety days unless an attorney chairman is appointed within one year from the date the request for review of the claim was filed. If the board has not received notice of the appointment of an attorney chairman within one year from the date the request for review of the claim was filed, then the board shall promptly send notice to the parties by certified or registered mail that the claim has been dismissed for failure to appoint an attorney chairman and the parties shall be deemed to have waived the use of the medical review panel. The filing of a request for a medical review panel shall suspend the time within which suit must be filed until ninety days after the claim has been dismissed in accordance with this Section.

            (3) It shall be the duty of the board within fifteen days of the receipt of the claim by the board to:

            (a) Confirm to the claimant by certified mail, return receipt requested, that the filing has been officially received and whether or not the named defendant or defendants have qualified under this Part.

            (b) In the confirmation to the claimant pursuant to Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, notify the claimant of the amount of the filing fee due and the time frame within which such fee is due to the board, and that upon failure to comply with the provisions of Subparagraph (1)(c) or (d) of this Subsection, the request for review of a malpractice claim is invalid and without effect and that the request shall not suspend the time within which suit must be instituted in Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection.

            (c) Notify all named defendants by certified mail, return receipt requested, whether or not qualified under the provisions of this Part, that a filing has been made against them and request made for the formation of a medical review panel; and forward a copy of the proposed complaint to each named defendant at his last and usual place of residence or his office.

            (4) The board shall notify the claimant and all named defendants by certified mail, return receipt requested, of any of the following information:

            (a) The date of receipt of the filing fee.

            (b) That no filing was due because the claimant timely provided the affidavit set forth in Item (1)(d)(i) of this Subsection.

            (c) That the claimant has timely complied with the provisions of Item (1)(d)(ii) of this Subsection.

            (d) That the required filing fee was not timely paid pursuant to Subparagraph (1)(c) of this Subsection.

            (5) In the event that the board is unable to determine after forty-five days from the date of mailing of the notification, whether notification by certified mail, return receipt requested, provided for in Paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Subsection has been received by the claimant, or the notification is not claimed or is returned undeliverable, the board shall provide such notification by regular first class mail, which date of mailing shall have the effect of receipt of notice by certified mail for purposes of Subparagraphs (1)(c) and (d) of this Subsection.

            (6) In the event the board receives a filing fee that was not timely paid pursuant to Subparagraph (1)(c) of this Subsection, then the board shall return, or refund the amount of, the filing fee to the claimant within thirty days of the date the board receives the untimely filing fee.

            B.(1)(a)(i) No action against a health care provider covered by this Part, or his insurer, may be commenced in any court before the claimant's proposed complaint has been presented to a medical review panel established pursuant to this Section.

            (ii) A certificate of enrollment issued by the board shall be admitted in evidence.

            (b) However, with respect to an act of malpractice which occurs after September 1, 1983, if an opinion is not rendered by the panel within twelve months after the date of notification of the selection of the attorney chairman by the executive director to the selected attorney and all other parties pursuant to Paragraph (1) of Subsection C of this Section, suit may be instituted against a health care provider covered by this Part. However, either party may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for an order extending the twelve month period provided in this Subsection for good cause shown. After the twelve month period provided for in this Subsection or any court-ordered extension thereof, the medical review panel established to review the claimant's complaint shall be dissolved without the necessity of obtaining a court order of dissolution.

            (c) By agreement of all parties, the use of the medical review panel may be waived.

            (d) By agreement of all parties and upon written request to the attorney chairman, an expedited medical review panel process may be selected. Unless otherwise specified in the provisions of Subsection N of this Section, the expedited process shall be governed by other provisions of this Section.

            (2)(a) A health care provider against whom a claim has been filed under the provisions of this Part may raise peremptory exceptions of no right of action pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Article 927 or any exception or defenses available pursuant to R.S. 9:5628 in a court of competent jurisdiction and proper venue at any time without need for completion of the review process by the medical review panel.

            (b) If the court finds that the claim had prescribed or otherwise was perempted prior to being filed, the panel, if established, shall be dissolved upon the judgment becoming final. If the court grants the peremptory exception of no right of action as to all claimants, the panel, if established, shall be dissolved upon the judgment becoming final. If the court grants the peremptory exception of no right of action as to less than all claimants, the claimants as to whom the court granted the peremptory exception of no right of action shall be prohibited from participating in the panel process as a claimant.

            (3) Ninety days after the notification to all parties by certified mail by the attorney chairman or the board of the dissolution of the medical review panel or ninety days after the expiration of any court-ordered extension as authorized by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the suspension of the running of prescription with respect to a qualified health care provider shall cease.

            C. The medical review panel shall consist of three health care providers who hold unlimited licenses to practice their profession in Louisiana and one attorney. The parties may agree on the attorney member of the medical review panel. If no attorney for or representative of any health care provider named in the complaint has made an appearance in the proceedings or made written contact with the attorney for the plaintiff within forty-five days of the date of receipt of the notification to the health care provider and the insurer that the required filing fee has been received by the patient's compensation board as required by Subparagraph (A)(1)(c) of this Section, the attorney for the plaintiff may appoint the attorney member of the medical review panel for the purpose of convening the panel. Such notice to the health care provider and the insurer shall be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. If no agreement can be reached, then the attorney member of the medical review panel shall be selected in the following manner:

            (1)(a) The office of the clerk of the Louisiana Supreme Court, upon receipt of notification from the board, shall draw five names at random from the list of attorneys who reside or maintain an office in the parish which would be proper venue for the action in a court of law. The names of judges other than city court judges, magistrates, district attorneys, and assistant district attorneys shall be excluded if drawn and new names drawn in their place. After selection of the attorney names, the office of the clerk of the supreme court shall notify the board of the names so selected. It shall be the duty of the board to notify the parties of the attorney names from which the parties may choose the attorney member of the panel within five days. If no agreement can be reached within five days, the parties shall immediately initiate a procedure of selecting the attorney by each striking two names alternately, with the claimant striking first and so advising the health care provider of the name of the attorney so stricken; thereafter, the health care provider and the claimant shall alternately strike until both sides have stricken two names and the remaining name shall be the attorney member of the panel. If either the plaintiff or defendant fails to strike, the clerk of the Louisiana Supreme Court shall strike for that party within five additional days.

            (b) After the striking, the office of the board shall notify the attorney and all other parties of the name of the selected attorney.

            (2) The attorney shall act as chairman of the panel and in an advisory capacity but shall have no vote. It is the duty of the chairman to expedite the selection of the other panel members, to convene the panel, and expedite the panel's review of the proposed complaint. The chairman shall establish a reasonable schedule for submission of evidence to the medical review panel but must allow sufficient time for the parties to make full and adequate presentation of related facts and authorities within ninety days following selection of the panel.

            (3)(a) The plaintiff shall notify the attorney chairman and the named defendants of his choice of a health care provider member of the medical review panel within thirty days of the date of certification of his filing by the board.

            (b) The named defendant shall then have fifteen days after notification by the plaintiff of the plaintiff's choice of his health care provider panelist to name the defendant's health care provider panelist.

            (c) If either the plaintiff or defendant fails to make a selection of health care provider panelist within the time provided, the attorney chairman shall notify by certified mail the failing party to make such selection within five days of the receipt of the notice.

            (d) If no selection is made within the five day period, then the chairman shall make the selection on behalf of the failing party. The two health care provider panel members selected by the parties or on their behalf shall be notified by the chairman to select the third health care provider panel member within fifteen days of their receipt of such notice.

            (e) If the two health care provider panel members fail to make such selection within the fifteen day period allowed, the chairman shall then make the selection of the third panel member and thereby complete the panel.

            (f) A physician who holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and who is engaged in the active practice of medicine in this state, whether in the teaching profession or otherwise, shall be available for selection as a member of a medical review panel.

            (g) Each party to the action shall have the right to select one health care provider and upon selection the health care provider shall be required to serve.

            (h) When there are multiple plaintiffs or defendants, there shall be only one health care provider selected per side. The plaintiff, whether single or multiple, shall have the right to select one health care provider, and the defendant, whether single or multiple, shall have the right to select one health care provider.

            (i) A panelist so selected and the attorney member selected in accordance with this Subsection shall serve unless for good cause shown may be excused. To show good cause for relief from serving, the panelist shall present an affidavit to a judge of a court of competent jurisdiction and proper venue which shall set out the facts showing that service would constitute an unreasonable burden or undue hardship. A health care provider panelist may also be excused from serving by the attorney chairman if during the previous twelve-month period he has been appointed to four other medical review panels. In either such event, a replacement panelist shall be selected within fifteen days in the same manner as the excused panelist.

            (j) If there is only one party defendant which is not a hospital, community blood center, tissue bank, or ambulance service, all panelists except the attorney shall be from the same class and specialty of practice of health care provider as the defendant. If there is only one party defendant which is a hospital, community blood center, tissue bank, or ambulance service, all panelists except the attorney shall be physicians. If there are claims against multiple defendants, one or more of whom are health care providers other than a hospital, community blood center, tissue bank, or ambulance service, the panelists selected in accordance with this Subsection may also be selected from health care providers who are from the same class and specialty of practice of health care providers as are any of the defendants other than a hospital, community blood center, tissue bank, or ambulance service.

            (4) When the medical review panel is formed, the chairman shall within five days notify the board and the parties by registered or certified mail of the names and addresses of the panel members and the date on which the last member was selected.

            (5)(a) Before entering upon their duties, each voting panelist shall subscribe before a notary public the following oath:

            "I, (name) do solemnly swear/affirm that I will faithfully perform the duties of medical review panel member to the best of my ability and without partiality or favoritism of any kind. I acknowledge that I represent neither side and that it is my lawful duty to serve with complete impartiality and to render a decision in accordance with law and the evidence."

            (b) The attorney panel member shall subscribe to the same oath except that in lieu of the last sentence thereof the attorney's oath shall state:

            "I acknowledge that I represent neither side and that it is my lawful duty to advise the panel members concerning matters of law and procedure and to serve as chairman."

            (c) The original of each oath shall be attached to the opinion rendered by the panel.

            (6) The party aggrieved by the alleged failure or refusal of another to perform according to the provisions of this Section may petition any district court of proper venue over the parties for an order directing that the parties comply with the medical review panel provisions of the medical malpractice act.

            (7) A panelist or a representative or attorney for any interested party shall not discuss with other members of a medical review panel on which he serves a claim which is to be reviewed by the panel until all evidence to be considered by the panel has been submitted. A panelist or a representative or attorney for any interested party shall not discuss the pending claim with the claimant or his attorney asserting the claim or with a health care provider or his attorney against whom a claim has been asserted under this Section. A panelist or the attorney chairman shall disclose in writing to the parties prior to the hearing any employment relationship or financial relationship with the claimant, the health care provider against whom a claim is asserted, or the attorneys representing the claimant or health care provider, or any other relationship that might give rise to a conflict of interest for the panelists.

            D.(1) The evidence to be considered by the medical review panel shall be promptly submitted by the respective parties in written form only.

            (2) The evidence may consist of medical charts, x-rays, lab tests, excerpts of treatises, depositions of witnesses including parties, interrogatories, affidavits and reports of medical experts, and any other form of evidence allowable by the medical review panel.

            (3) Depositions of the parties and witnesses may be taken prior to the convening of the panel.

            (4) Upon request of any party, or upon request of any two panel members, the clerk of any district court shall issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum in aid of the taking of depositions and the production of documentary evidence for inspection and/or copying.

            (5) The chairman of the panel shall advise the panel relative to any legal question involved in the review proceeding and shall prepare the opinion of the panel as provided in Subsection G.

            (6) A copy of the evidence shall be sent to each member of the panel.

            E. Either party, after submission of all evidence and upon ten days notice to the other side, shall have the right to convene the panel at a time and place agreeable to the members of the panel. Either party may question the panel concerning any matters relevant to issues to be decided by the panel before the issuance of their report. The chairman of the panel shall preside at all meetings. Meetings shall be informal.

            F. The panel shall have the right and duty to request and procure all necessary information. The panel may consult with medical authorities, provided the names of such authorities are submitted to the parties with a synopsis of their opinions and provided further that the parties may then obtain their testimony by deposition. The panel may examine reports of such other health care providers necessary to fully inform itself regarding the issue to be decided. Both parties shall have full access to any material submitted to the panel.

            G. The panel shall have the sole duty to express its expert opinion as to whether or not the evidence supports the conclusion that the defendant or defendants acted or failed to act within the appropriate standards of care. After reviewing all evidence and after any examination of the panel by counsel representing either party, the panel shall, within thirty days, render one or more of the following expert opinions, which shall be in writing and signed by the panelists, together with written reasons for their conclusions:

            (1) The evidence supports the conclusion that the defendant or defendants failed to comply with the appropriate standard of care as charged in the complaint.

            (2) The evidence does not support the conclusion that the defendant or defendants failed to meet the applicable standard of care as charged in the complaint.

            (3) That there is a material issue of fact, not requiring expert opinion, bearing on liability for consideration by the court.

            (4) When Paragraph (1) of this Subsection is answered in the affirmative, that the conduct complained of was or was not a factor of the resultant damages. If such conduct was a factor, whether the plaintiff suffered: (a) any disability and the extent and duration of the disability, and (b) any permanent impairment and the percentage of the impairment.

            H. Any report of the expert opinion reached by the medical review panel shall be admissible as evidence in any action subsequently brought by the claimant in a court of law, but such expert opinion shall not be conclusive and either party shall have the right to call, at his cost, any member of the medical review panel as a witness. If called, the witness shall be required to appear and testify. A panelist shall have absolute immunity from civil liability for all communications, findings, opinions and conclusions made in the course and scope of duties prescribed by this Part.

            I.(1)(a) Each physician member of the medical review panel shall be paid at the rate of twenty-five dollars per diem, not to exceed a total of three hundred dollars for all work performed as a member of the panel exclusive of time involved if called as a witness to testify in a court of law regarding the communications, findings, and conclusions made in the course and scope of duties as a member of the medical review panel, and in addition thereto, reasonable travel expenses.

            (b) The attorney chairman of the medical review panel shall be paid at the rate of one hundred dollars per diem, not to exceed a total of two thousand dollars for all work performed as a member of the panel exclusive of time involved if called as a witness to testify in a court of law regarding the communications, findings, and conclusions made in the course and scope of duties as a member of the medical review panel, and in addition thereto, reasonable travel expenses. Additionally, the attorney chairman shall be reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in performing his duties for each medical review panel. The attorney chairman shall submit the amount due him for all work performed as a member of the panel by affidavit, which shall attest that he has performed in the capacity of chairman of the medical review panel and that he was personally present at all the panel's meetings or deliberations.

            (2)(a) The costs of the medical review panel shall be paid by the health care provider if the opinion of the medical review panel is in favor of said defendant health care provider.

            (b) The claimant shall pay the costs of the medical review panel if the opinion of the medical review panel is in favor of the claimant. However, if the claimant is unable to pay, the claimant shall submit to the attorney chairman prior to the convening of the medical review panel an in forma pauperis ruling issued in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure Article 5181 et seq. by a district court in a venue in which the malpractice claim could properly be brought upon the conclusion of the medical review panel process. Upon timely receipt of the in forma pauperis ruling, the costs of the medical review panel shall be paid by the health care provider, with the proviso that if the claimant subsequently receives a settlement or receives a judgment, the advance payment of the medical review panel costs will be offset.

            (c) In a medical malpractice suit filed by the claimant in which a unanimous opinion was rendered in favor of the defendant health care provider as provided in the expert opinion stated in Paragraph (G)(2) of this Section, the claimant who proceeds to file such a suit shall be required to post a cash or surety bond, approved by the court, in the amount of all costs of the medical review panel. Upon the conclusion of the medical malpractice suit, the court shall order that the cash or surety bond be forfeited to the defendant health care provider for reimbursement of the costs of the medical review panel, unless a final judgment is rendered finding the defendant liable to the claimant for any damages. If a final judgment is rendered finding the defendant liable to the claimant for any damages, the court shall order that the defendant health care provider reimburse the claimant an amount equal to the cost of obtaining the cash or surety bond posted by the claimant.

            (d) In the event a medical review panel renders a unanimous opinion in favor of the claimant as provided in the expert opinions stated in Paragraphs (G)(1) and (4) of this Section, and the claimant has not timely submitted an in forma pauperis ruling to the panel's attorney chairman, and thereafter the defendant health care provider failed to settle the claim with the claimant resulting in the claimant filing a malpractice suit in a court of competent jurisdiction and proper venue against the defendant health care provider based on the same claim which was the subject of the unanimously adverse medical review panel opinion against the defendant health care provider, the defendant health care provider shall be required to post a cash or surety bond, approved by the court, in the amount of all costs of the medical review panel. Upon the conclusion of the medical malpractice suit, the court shall order that the cash or surety bond be forfeited to the claimant for reimbursement of the costs of the medical review panel, unless a final judgment is rendered finding that the defendant health care provider has no liability for damages to the claimant. If a final judgment is rendered finding that the defendant health care provider has no liability for damages to the claimant, the court shall order that the claimant reimburse the defendant health care provider an amount equal to the cost of obtaining the cash or surety bond posted by the defendant health care provider.

            (3) If the medical review panel decides that there is a material issue of fact bearing on liability for consideration by the court, the claimant and the health care provider shall split the costs of the medical review panel. However, in those instances in which the claimant is unable to pay his share of the costs of the medical review panel, the claimant shall submit to the attorney chairman prior to the convening of the medical review panel an in forma pauperis ruling issued in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure Article 5181 et seq., by a district court in a venue in which the malpractice claim could properly be brought upon the conclusion of the medical review panel process. Upon timely receipt of the in forma pauperis ruling, the costs of the medical review panel shall be paid by the defendant health care provider with the proviso that if the claimant subsequently receives a settlement or receives a judgment, the advance payment of the claimant's share of the costs of the medical review panel will be offset.

            (4) Upon the rendering of the written panel decision, if any one of the panelists finds that the evidence supports the conclusion that a defendant health care provider failed to comply with the appropriate standard of care as charged in the complaint, each defendant health care provider as to whom such a determination was made shall reimburse to the claimant that portion of the filing fee applicable to the claim against such defendant health care provider or if any one of the panelists finds that the evidence supports the conclusion that there is a material issue of fact, not requiring expert opinion, bearing on liability of such defendant health care provider for consideration by the court, each such defendant health care provider as to whom such a determination was made shall reimburse to the claimant fifty percent of that portion of the filing fee applicable to the claim against such defendant health care provider.

            J. The chairman shall submit a copy of the panel's report to the board and all parties and attorneys by registered or certified mail within five days after the panel renders its opinion.

            K. Repealed by Acts 2005, No. 127, §2.

            L. Where the medical review panel issues its opinion required by this Section, the suspension of the running of prescription shall not cease until ninety days following notification by certified mail to the claimant or his attorney of the issuance of the opinion as required by Subsection J of this Section.

            M. Legal interest shall accrue from the date of filing of the complaint with the board on a judgment rendered by a court in a suit for medical malpractice brought after compliance with this Part.

            N.(1)(a)(i) Parties seeking an expedited panel process pursuant to the provisions of Subparagraph (B)(1)(d) of this Section shall request such process in writing sixty days from the date of the letter of notification of the selection of the attorney chairman pursuant to Paragraph (C)(1) of this Section. When a written request for an expedited medical review panel process has been made to the attorney chairman, the chairman shall establish a schedule for submission of evidence to the medical review panel within ninety days following selection of the third physician member of the panel so that a panel opinion is rendered within twelve months of the date of notification of the selection of the attorney chairman.

            (ii) In accordance with Subsection J of this Section, the chairman shall submit a copy of the panel's report to the board and all parties and attorneys by registered or certified mail within five days after the panel renders its opinion. In accordance with Subsection L of this Section, where the medical review panel issues its opinion required by this Section, the suspension of the running of prescription shall not cease until ninety days following notification by certified mail to the claimant or his attorney of the issuance of the opinion as required by Subsection J of this Section.

            (b)(i) No party may petition a court for an order extending the twelve month period provided in Subparagraph (B)(1)(b) of this Section. If an opinion is not rendered by the panel within the twelve month period established in this Subsection, suit may be instituted against the health care provider.

            (ii) In accordance with Subparagraph (B)(1)(b) of this Section, after the twelve month period provided for in this Subsection, the medical review panel established to review the claimant's complaint shall be dissolved without the necessity of obtaining a court order of dissolution.

            (iii) In accordance with Paragraph (B)(3) of this Section, ninety days after the notification to all parties by certified mail by the attorney chairman of the board of the dissolution of the medical review panel, the suspension of the running of prescription with respect to a qualified health care provider shall cease.

            (2) During selection of the physician members of the medical review panel, the plaintiff shall notify the attorney chairman and the named defendants of his choice of a health care provider member of the medical review panel within ten days of the date of written request to the chairman for an expedited panel process. The named defendant shall then have five days after notification by the plaintiff of the plaintiff's choice of his health care provider panelist to name the defendant's health care provider panelist. If no selection is made within the five and ten day respective periods, then the chairman shall make the selection on behalf of the failing party. The two health care provider panel members selected by the parties or on their behalf shall be notified by the chairman to select the third health care provider panel member within fifteen days of their receipt of such notice from the chairman to make the selection. If no selection is made within the fifteen day period, then the chairman shall make the selection on behalf of the two health care provider panel members.

            (3)(a) Within thirty days of the parties' written request for an expedited medical review panel process to the attorney chairman, the claimant shall provide all defendants with a list of the names and addresses of all known health care providers, including individuals and entities, who have treated the patient during the time period starting from three years prior to the date of the alleged malpractice up to and including the date that the list is provided. The claimant shall make a good faith effort to identify the treating health care providers.

            (b) The claimant shall execute and provide all defendants with a HIPAA Compliant Authorization form to permit the defendants to obtain the medical records.

            (c) An order to protect the medical records may be sought as provided in Code of Civil Procedure Article 1426 or the HIPAA regulations at 45 CFR 164.512(e) in a court of competent jurisdiction and proper venue.

            (d) If an authorization is not provided or a protective order is not obtained within thirty days following the written request by the parties to the chairman for an expedited medical review panel process, the medical review panel shall lose its expedited status and no longer be governed by the provisions of this Subsection. The attorney chairman shall provide notice of this to the board and all parties by registered or certified mail.

            (4)(a) The evidence to be considered by the medical review panel shall be promptly submitted by the respective parties in written form only, according to the schedule established by the chairman.

            (b) The evidence may consist only of medical charts, x-rays or other film studies, lab tests, other diagnostic or medical tests, and a position paper submitted by or on behalf of each party.

            (c) Neither interrogatories to nor depositions of the parties and witnesses may be taken prior to the convening of the panel.

            (d) No party or panel member shall be permitted to request the clerk of any district court to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum in aid of the taking of depositions and the production of documentary evidence. However, if a copy of the medical record is not produced by a health care provider within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed fifteen days, following a health care provider’s receipt of a medical authorization executed by the claimant pursuant to Subparagraph (3)(b) of this Subsection then the party who forwarded the authorization to the health care provider may request the clerk of any district court to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum in aid of the production of the medical records.

            (5) The attorney chairman, after submission of all evidence and upon ten days notice, shall convene the panel at a time and place agreeable to the members of the panel, but in no event shall the opinion be rendered later than twelve months from the date of notification of the selection of the attorney chairman by the executive director to the selected attorney and all other parties pursuant to Paragraph (C)(1) of this Section. Either party may informally question the panel concerning any matters relevant to issues to be decided by the panel before and after the issuance of their report. The panel deliberation and the questioning of the panel shall not be recorded. The chairman of the panel shall preside at all meetings.

            (6) The panel shall have the sole duty to express its expert opinion as to whether or not the evidence supports the conclusion that the defendant or defendants acted or failed to act within the appropriate standards of care. After reviewing all evidence and after any examination of the panel by counsel representing either party, the panel shall, within thirty days, but in no event later than twelve months of the date of notification of the selection of the attorney chairman pursuant to Paragraph (C)(1) of this Section, render one or more of the following expert opinions, which shall be in writing and signed by the panelists, together with written reasons for their conclusions:

            (a)  The evidence supports the conclusion that the defendant or defendants failed to comply with the appropriate standard of care as charged in the complaint.

            (b) The evidence does not support the conclusion that the defendant or defendants failed to meet the applicable standard of care as charged in the complaint.

            (c) That there is a material issue of fact, not requiring expert opinion, bearing on liability for consideration by the court.

            (7) The report of the expert opinion reached by the expedited medical review panel process pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection shall not be admissible as evidence in any action subsequently brought by the claimant in a court of law. Neither party shall have the right to call any member of the medical review panel as a witness. A panelist shall have absolute immunity from civil liability for all communications, findings, opinions and conclusions made in the course and scope of duties prescribed by this Part.

            (8) The provisions of Subparagraphs (I)(2)(c) and (d) of this Section shall not apply to a medical review panel governed by the expedited medical review panel process.

            Amended by Acts 1991, No. 661, §1; Acts 1991, No. 668, §1; Acts 1992, No. 347, §1, eff. June 17, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 1258, §1; Acts 1997, No. 664, §1; Acts 1997, No. 830, §1; Acts 1999, No. 610, §1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 86, §1; Acts 2003, No. 484, §1; Acts 2003, No. 644, §1; Acts 2003, No. 961, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1263, §1, eff. July 7, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 306, §1; Acts 2004, No. 309, §1; Acts 2004, No. 311, §1; Acts 2005, No. 127, §§1, 2; Acts 2006, No. 323, §1; Acts 2008, No. 558, §1; Acts 2012, No. 802, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.47 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.; Acts 2016, No. 275, §1; Acts 2017, No. 294, §1; Acts 2022, No. 162, §2; Acts 2023, No. 5, §2.