§671-16.5  Arbitration; subsequent litigation.  Any person or the person's representative claiming that a medical tort has been committed or any health care provider against whom an inquiry has been made may elect to bypass the court annexed arbitration program under section 601-20 after the inquiry has been submitted to the medical inquiry and conciliation panel and the panel has been terminated pursuant to section 671-15 if the party meaningfully participated in panel proceedings, an alternative dispute resolution process has been terminated pursuant to section 671-16.6, or the panel or alternative dispute resolution process has not completed proceedings within the tolling period of the statute of limitations under section 671-18. [L 1989, c 280, §2; am L 2012, c 296, pt of §4]