§ 36-8-4-5 — Care of police officers and firefighters injured or contracting illnesses as a result of performance of duties

(a) A city shall pay for the care of a police
officer or firefighter who suffers an injury while performing the
person's duty or while the person is on duty or who contracts illness
caused by the performance of the person's duty, including an injury or
illness that results in a disability or death presumed incurred in the line
of duty under IC 5-10-13. This care includes:
(1) medical and surgical care;
(2) medicines and laboratory, curative, and palliative agents and
means;
(3) X-ray, diagnostic, and therapeutic service, including during
the recovery period; and
(4) hospital and special nursing care if the physician or surgeon
in charge considers it necessary for proper recovery.
(b) Expenditures required by subsection (a) shall be paid from the
general fund of the city.
(c) A city that has paid for the care of a police officer or firefighter
under subsection (a) has a cause of action for reimbursement of the
amount paid under subsection (a) against any third party against whom
the police officer or firefighter has a cause of action for an injury
sustained because of or an illness caused by the third party. The city's
cause of action under this subsection is in addition to, and not in lieu
of, the cause of action of the police officer or firefighter against the
third party.
[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: subsection
(a) formerly 19-1-13-1; subsection (b) formerly 19-1-13-2.]
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.53. Amended by
P.L.169-1994, SEC.1; P.L.185-2002, SEC.4; P.L.66-2020,
SEC.1.